tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306768674870566162024-03-17T12:24:59.217-07:00Cats, Books, and...More Cats!Ramblings on cats, books and more from a VERY opinionated tuxedo cat!ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.comBlogger805125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-46070053623748201102024-03-15T01:00:00.000-07:002024-03-15T01:00:00.140-07:00ROCCO and Chazz review....MURDER IN THE TEA LEAVES<p> ROCCO here! I'd like to introduce everyone to my protegee, Chazz! Chazz will be helping out doing reviews and other things with the blog, so please give him a warm welcome! His first assignemnt was reviewing Laura Child's latest Tea Shop mystery, MURDER IN THE TEA LEAVES!</p><p>SPOTLIGHT!</p><p>MURDER IN THE TEA LEAVES</p><p>A Tea Shop Mystery</p><p>Laura Childs</p><p>Hardcover/Berkley Prime Crime</p><p>Release date: March 5, 2024</p><p>Rating: Five Paws!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9CTRPzGPD0naDju_OOKKxRIvGSM5qlTbsyZyzfXohhC1wB-V6c5n1DMVslsSl0-jZgKru54cRq5ReU6picoavHk5i-2eQIdEZGmJzfuYQWlJ0xtt0nKYT8sialHjP8x_MgHK61pkXLnTCHkREL2eV1X3AblC4sLy6WEhmfKJdwss1T0hBSMutB67_tc/s466/Murder%20in%20the%20Tea%20Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9CTRPzGPD0naDju_OOKKxRIvGSM5qlTbsyZyzfXohhC1wB-V6c5n1DMVslsSl0-jZgKru54cRq5ReU6picoavHk5i-2eQIdEZGmJzfuYQWlJ0xtt0nKYT8sialHjP8x_MgHK61pkXLnTCHkREL2eV1X3AblC4sLy6WEhmfKJdwss1T0hBSMutB67_tc/s320/Murder%20in%20the%20Tea%20Leaves.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Theodosia Browning reads the tea leaves on the set of the movie, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">Dark Fortunes,</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> things go from spooky to worse. Lights are dimmed, the camera rolls, and red hot sparks fly as the film’s director is murdered in a tricky electrical accident.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Or was it an accident? Though the cast and crew are stunned beyond belief, nobody admits to seeing a thing. And when Theodosia’s friend, Delaine, becomes the prime suspect, Theodosia begins her own shadow investigation. But who among this Hollywood cast and crew had murder on their mind? The screenwriter is a self-centered pot head, the leading actress is trying to wiggle out of her contract, the brand new director seems indifferent, and nobody trusts the slippery-when-dry Hollywood agent.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Between hosting a Breakfast at Tiffany’s Tea, a Poetry Tea, and trying to launch her own chocolate line, Theodosia doggedly hunts down clues and explores the seemingly haunted Brittlebank Manor where the murder took place. And just when she’s ready to pounce, a Charleston Film Board member is also murdered, throwing everything into total disarray. But this clever killer will go to any lengths to hide his misdeeds as Theodosia soon finds out when she and her tea sommelier, Drayton, get caught up in a dangerous stakeout.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Hello everyone! I'm Chazz and I'm jazzed for Laura Child's latest book to be my very first review! I have to admit, Im very much behind on this series, but after pawing thru this one, I've got to start form book one! The book was excellently plotted and the characters vivid. Laura Childs has a way of making her murders quite unusual and this was no exception. I liked the way Theodosia immediately stuck up for her friend Delaine and determined to clear her name. (Although i did think Delaine was a bit much! She's lucky Theo is her friend.) the book combines cozy with thriller, another of my favorite genres, so suffice it to say I'm hooked! I look forward to reading more of Ms Child's books (and cat-ching up on the ones I've missed!)</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ROCCO; Yes, this one is a definite winner. What Hollywood cast and crew hasn't thought about murdeirng thier director LOL. As usual, Theodosia noses around until the killer finally makes a move. I'm only hoping boyfiriend Reilly can stick with her - they seem a good match! (Unless you consider Drayton, her sidekick.) One thing: I'd give Hayley a bit more to do other than cook! And maybe add a cat......</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Both Chazz and I give this a resounding five paws up</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Giveaway!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Laura Childs will give a signed copy away to one lucky commenter! Just leave your name and email addy in our comments section and tell us who your favorite Tea Shop character is! Chazz will select the winner! Contest closes midnight, Friday March 22. US residents only please. </span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-43547244556328958682024-03-04T08:51:00.000-08:002024-03-04T08:51:45.425-08:00ROCCO introduces Chazz!<p> Hello Folks! ROCCO here!</p><p><br /></p><p>As some of you know, I've been blogging here since 2008! Im no spring chicken anymore, so the human and I decided it was time for me to train a protegee! and here he is!</p><p><br /></p><p>Meet Chazz!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Bpp_8MgICisgUfS-7FoXLn-wNFfDtKKQqlH03tpnpjezVuOkJzjADpYyt2ZWj19bgufoAEy0Hn7KzO24Ny4tQpVVMgPTBQ0IvtDxniQ5yePe7swJmRliBIOYuQbjqCIjdhDP7jUSha3J8qQ5WXWWieuMzh1MU8v31LROnqG3p5zo_oYq8FRE8CvQ5M/s1600/chaz%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Bpp_8MgICisgUfS-7FoXLn-wNFfDtKKQqlH03tpnpjezVuOkJzjADpYyt2ZWj19bgufoAEy0Hn7KzO24Ny4tQpVVMgPTBQ0IvtDxniQ5yePe7swJmRliBIOYuQbjqCIjdhDP7jUSha3J8qQ5WXWWieuMzh1MU8v31LROnqG3p5zo_oYq8FRE8CvQ5M/s320/chaz%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdagximdNBp9nV6ZPVfYqvJFiw5zrkGxmnaYDy_haICpIrUWkwpAWswIJVTc_s-bFqJugqzu7s6Kd8PpqPUJnTT7RO_EFfM6V5vX7jCopPA6JVgVnZpwv17PMolh3nizNPd2zmtR4v0QRuc_5rfjqUFll8G7f2MHr3Sb5DAUTiNBpgR-DVmUtYv8kTvA/s4128/Chazz%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2322" data-original-width="4128" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdagximdNBp9nV6ZPVfYqvJFiw5zrkGxmnaYDy_haICpIrUWkwpAWswIJVTc_s-bFqJugqzu7s6Kd8PpqPUJnTT7RO_EFfM6V5vX7jCopPA6JVgVnZpwv17PMolh3nizNPd2zmtR4v0QRuc_5rfjqUFll8G7f2MHr3Sb5DAUTiNBpgR-DVmUtYv8kTvA/s320/Chazz%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Chazz is a senior boy (though not as senior as myself) He will be 9 years young this September. He is a rescue cat. He was rescued from a house that had 83 other cats living in it! Chazz has a few health issues but overall is in remarkable shape! He is a loving, affectionate kitty who enjoys a good chin rub and a good book! </p><p>I hope that you all will give him a warm welcome! I look forward to sharing my knowledge with Chazz!</p><p><br /></p><p>ROCCO<span> </span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-57062070681372395802024-02-08T23:30:00.000-08:002024-02-08T23:30:00.174-08:00ROCCO'S FEBRUARY COZY REVIEWS!<p> Ma Row! Here are our February Cozy Reviews!</p><p><br /></p><p>Up first....the newest Second Chance Cat mystery!</p><p><br /></p><p>FUR LOVE OR MONEY</p><p>SOFIE RYAN</p><p>BERKLEY; MMPB</p><p>FEBRUARY 6, 2024</p><p>FIVE PAWS</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb0CWgif4Mx3Mf5wHsypuL27TlJZgNWZBacYbQo4SA0IqsvC-49T_xbz2fVXU5GDCnK-KBSqEzwvsbQySol2xPiQpPSIZ_u0a7gj0bOCo6Q4lk-dZSPoflJLPfUgwaoeUUoMqPTHhcoM4c6Hjon3T33n0Bao8Z80tRmPeYZJiOSADl6-6MIuNu31AYg0/s466/Fur%20Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb0CWgif4Mx3Mf5wHsypuL27TlJZgNWZBacYbQo4SA0IqsvC-49T_xbz2fVXU5GDCnK-KBSqEzwvsbQySol2xPiQpPSIZ_u0a7gj0bOCo6Q4lk-dZSPoflJLPfUgwaoeUUoMqPTHhcoM4c6Hjon3T33n0Bao8Z80tRmPeYZJiOSADl6-6MIuNu31AYg0/s320/Fur%20Love.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="drengr_desktopTabbedDescription" data-csa-c-asin="0593550242" data-csa-c-content-id="drengr_desktopTabbedDescription" data-csa-c-id="y2vtmk-d2gzwx-4xuxl3-nx3igf" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="drengr_desktopTabbedDescription" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="drengr_desktopTabbedDescription" id="drengr_desktopTabbedDescription" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="a-tab-container pInfoTabsContainer" id="pInfoTabsContainer" style="border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px; overflow: auto;"><div class="a-section feature" data-cel-widget="productDescription_feature_div" data-feature-name="productDescription" data-template-name="productDescription" id="productDescription_feature_div" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="a-box a-box-tab a-tab-content productInfoTabContent" data-a-name="tab0" role="tabpanel" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: -1px;" tabindex="0"><div class="a-box-inner" style="border-radius: 8px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 16px 0px; position: relative;"><div class="pInfoTabCExpander" id="productInfoTabExpander0" name="drengr_desktopTabbedDescriptionOverviewContent" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="pInfoTabCExpander-collapse" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-height: 365.612px; overflow-y: hidden; transition: height 0.2s ease 0s;"><div class="pInfoTabCExpander-content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="drengr_desktopTabbedDescriptionOverviewContent_feature_div" data-csa-c-asin="0593550242" data-csa-c-content-id="drengr_desktopTabbedDescriptionOverviewContent" data-csa-c-id="oh5fcw-s147m6-9jua7y-3ji160" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="drengr_desktopTabbedDescriptionOverviewContent_feature_div" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="drengr_desktopTabbedDescriptionOverviewContent" id="drengr_desktopTabbedDescriptionOverviewContent_feature_div" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Secondhand shop owner Sarah Grayson and her rescue cat, Elvis, sniff out the suspect </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">in this new, delightful Second Chance Cat Mystery from </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author, Sofie Ryan.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sarah Grayson is taking a break from her bustling secondhand shop in small-town Maine to spend time with a friend and her dog. But their purr-fect visit comes to an end when the dog leads them to a storm cellar on a nearby property, where they discover a dead body.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The deceased turns out to be a sticky-fingered financial adviser who swindled millions from investors and who has been presumed dead for almost three years. Unfortunately, suspicion falls on the owner of the property where the body was found—and that owner is a good friend of Charlotte’s Angels’, the senior citizen sleuths who work out of Sarah’s shop. It’s all paws on deck, as the Angels are determined to clear his good name. But with a tight-lipped widow, a possibly shifty sister, and a slew of unhappy investors in the mix, the list of murder suspects seems endless. Sarah, Elvis, and the Angels have a lot of webs to untangle before they can catch the culprit.</span><a:text style="box-sizing: border-box;" textemphasis="true"></a:text></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="globalStoreInfoBullets_feature_div" data-csa-c-asin="0593550242" data-csa-c-content-id="globalStoreInfoBullets" data-csa-c-id="stqskq-w6se1f-oda0e1-2bhaqw" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="globalStoreInfoBullets_feature_div" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="globalStoreInfoBullets" id="globalStoreInfoBullets_feature_div" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="buyingOptionNostosBadge_feature_div" data-csa-c-asin="0593550242" data-csa-c-content-id="buyingOptionNostosBadge" data-csa-c-id="63proq-1o1anr-wvqt3g-pa1y94" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="buyingOptionNostosBadge_feature_div" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="buyingOptionNostosBadge" id="buyingOptionNostosBadge_feature_div" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="tellAmazon_feature_div" data-csa-c-asin="0593550242" data-csa-c-content-id="tellAmazon" data-csa-c-id="jkxeeh-5x9635-wnf68e-4wunml" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="tellAmazon_feature_div" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="tellAmazon" id="tellAmazon_feature_div" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div cel_widget_id="tell-amazon-desktop_DetailPage_6" class="celwidget c-f" data-cel-widget="tell-amazon-desktop_DetailPage_6" data-csa-c-content-id="DsUnknown" data-csa-c-id="182b7j-udg7hs-l3qhjd-7pu35h" data-csa-c-painter="tell-amazon-desktop-cards" data-csa-c-slot-id="DsUnknown-7" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-csa-op-log-render="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div data-acp-tracking="{}" data-card-metrics-id="tell-amazon-desktop_DetailPage_6" data-mix-claimed="true" id="CardInstancemaHKz9VAk4mOteRdv5E4AQ" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;">What can we say about this series that hasn't already been said? Good characters, compelling mysteries, and a charming cat named Elvis contnually put this as the top of our TBR list. Five Paws.</div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;">FATAL FIRST EDITION</div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;">JENN MCKINLAY</div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;">LIBRARY LOVERS MYSTERY</div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;">HC/BERKLEY/2/13/24</div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;">FIVE PAWS</div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCjX_4BKmkTsdJiaXTwVWW39ockkGsbDGdgVHZ83QHb8bg5kJjIE-6_Gu8N0tQrLSXFEpZ85wCbzvWhDKhCUjplRvW6q1oyZRuWWv-WHvPzpQYnMZ2IZ-qbZVvmE4lCMjT0yVD1buF9ywOPFvC16HrSWCKIqhfiCRkLAR2oES1XW7QaH8M1I5NJeTfws/s466/Fatal%20First%20jEditioin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCjX_4BKmkTsdJiaXTwVWW39ockkGsbDGdgVHZ83QHb8bg5kJjIE-6_Gu8N0tQrLSXFEpZ85wCbzvWhDKhCUjplRvW6q1oyZRuWWv-WHvPzpQYnMZ2IZ-qbZVvmE4lCMjT0yVD1buF9ywOPFvC16HrSWCKIqhfiCRkLAR2oES1XW7QaH8M1I5NJeTfws/s320/Fatal%20First%20jEditioin.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">People are dying to get their hands on a rare, valuable book in the newest Library Lover’s Mystery from the </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">of The Plot and the Pendulum</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Briar Creek Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Sully, are at a popular library conference in Chicago to hear book restoration specialist Brooklyn Wainwright give a keynote address. After the lecture, Lindsey looks under her seat and finds a tote bag containing a first edition of Patricia Highsmith’s </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">Strangers on a Train</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, inscribed to Alfred Hitchcock. Brooklyn determines the novel is one of a kind and quite valuable, so Lindsey and Sully return the book to the conference director, not wanting to stir up any trouble.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But just hours after the pair boards the train back to Connecticut, rumors that the Highsmith novel has gone missing buzz amongst the passengers, and they soon find the conference director murdered in his private compartment. And worse—the murderer planted the book in Lindsey and Sully’s room next door, making them prime suspects. Now, they must uncover the murderer and bring them to the end of their line, before they find themselves booked for a crime they didn’t commit.</span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Another excellent entry in a long runniung series. Strangers on a Train was one of our favorite movies, so it was a hoot to read how it played out in this book! Five Paws!</span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">MURDER IN MASQUERADE</span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">MARY WINTERS</span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">LADY IN LETTERS MYSTERY</span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">BERKLEY/TRADE PAPERBACK</span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">FEBRUARY 20 2024</span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">FOUR PAWS</span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzTvPmi7t9iVzi1sChB14VXlNMvvQiw_UoYie1_38sJl6sVGziENw1WRH1TJz9eSiLkth4A-2SVQYrdu-jV0oplEgpQxXSmC3xGm5o4sjuQXY9Lfai4jChTBZIXobrzH_8OigxiqH88rMYySVu9oabZkc1GzAxN55MmS_bgEVFa_N8hJ-n2QVUnjjG58/s466/MASQUERADE%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzTvPmi7t9iVzi1sChB14VXlNMvvQiw_UoYie1_38sJl6sVGziENw1WRH1TJz9eSiLkth4A-2SVQYrdu-jV0oplEgpQxXSmC3xGm5o4sjuQXY9Lfai4jChTBZIXobrzH_8OigxiqH88rMYySVu9oabZkc1GzAxN55MmS_bgEVFa_N8hJ-n2QVUnjjG58/s320/MASQUERADE%20(2).jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Extra, extra, read all about it! Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury finds herself playing the role of sleuth when a night at the theatre turns deadly.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Victorian Countess Amelia Amesbury’s secret hobby, writing an advice column for a London penny paper, has gotten her into hot water before. After all, Amelia will do whatever it takes to help a reader in need. But now, handsome marquis Simon Bainbridge desperately requires her assistance. His beloved younger sister, Marielle, has written Amelia's Lady Agony column seeking advice on her plans to elope with a man her family does not approve of. Determined to save his sister from a scoundrel and the family from scandal, Simon asks Amelia to dissuade Marielle from the ill-advised gambit.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But when the scoundrel makes an untimely exit after a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Amelia realizes there’s much more at stake than saving a young woman’s reputation from ruin. It’s going to take more than her letter-writing skills to help the dashing marquis, mend the familial bond, and find the murderer. Luckily, solving problems is her specialty!</span></span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;">jSecond entry in a promising new series.</div></div></div></div><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="globalStoreInfoBullets_feature_div" data-csa-c-asin="0593550242" data-csa-c-content-id="globalStoreInfoBullets" data-csa-c-id="stqskq-w6se1f-oda0e1-2bhaqw" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="globalStoreInfoBullets_feature_div" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="globalStoreInfoBullets" id="globalStoreInfoBullets_feature_div" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="buyingOptionNostosBadge_feature_div" data-csa-c-asin="0593550242" data-csa-c-content-id="buyingOptionNostosBadge" data-csa-c-id="63proq-1o1anr-wvqt3g-pa1y94" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="buyingOptionNostosBadge_feature_div" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="buyingOptionNostosBadge" id="buyingOptionNostosBadge_feature_div" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="tellAmazon_feature_div" data-csa-c-asin="0593550242" data-csa-c-content-id="tellAmazon" data-csa-c-id="jkxeeh-5x9635-wnf68e-4wunml" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="tellAmazon_feature_div" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="tellAmazon" id="tellAmazon_feature_div" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div cel_widget_id="tell-amazon-desktop_DetailPage_6" class="celwidget c-f" data-cel-widget="tell-amazon-desktop_DetailPage_6" data-csa-c-content-id="DsUnknown" data-csa-c-id="182b7j-udg7hs-l3qhjd-7pu35h" data-csa-c-painter="tell-amazon-desktop-cards" data-csa-c-slot-id="DsUnknown-7" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-csa-op-log-render="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div data-acp-tracking="{}" data-card-metrics-id="tell-amazon-desktop_DetailPage_6" data-mix-claimed="true" id="CardInstancemaHKz9VAk4mOteRdv5E4AQ" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_div__1YDZk" data-asin="0593550242" data-marketplace="ATVPDKIKX0DER" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="_tell-amazon-desktop_style_tell_amazon_link__1KW5z" data-mix-operations="openTellAmazonModal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185;"><i aria-label="Report an issue with this product or seller" class="a-icon a-icon-share-sms a-icon-mini" role="img" style="background-image: url("https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/sash/ZpbG74laklgnz-i.png"); background-position: -218px -79px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 512px 256px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 19px; position: relative; top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 19px;"><br /></i></a></div></div></div></div>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-56272636346293568522023-12-11T23:30:00.001-08:002023-12-11T23:30:00.131-08:00SPOTLIGHT ON...Author Annelise Ryan!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hello folks!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Today<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m interviewing author Annelise Ryan!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL6NfwKrMDn6a4ozIxm4-5hX3e8o4I4-O9YAsysDZcPHm-Kx2UMSJJledzuNPYK7dCo7oQJXt87Bti1T-ijArtwv_vl4BdvXbMv4Ku6ezKzAny_CWhZN-aHzrt5S5FKE-yn9VdsU2avOS62x6nyOBLz_CIh13KYVwCn3r2Us5ZJFD65MM093Vl7njFrs/s450/Annelise%20Ryan%20Photo%20%C2%A9%20H.%20Claire%20Photography%202022%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL6NfwKrMDn6a4ozIxm4-5hX3e8o4I4-O9YAsysDZcPHm-Kx2UMSJJledzuNPYK7dCo7oQJXt87Bti1T-ijArtwv_vl4BdvXbMv4Ku6ezKzAny_CWhZN-aHzrt5S5FKE-yn9VdsU2avOS62x6nyOBLz_CIh13KYVwCn3r2Us5ZJFD65MM093Vl7njFrs/s320/Annelise%20Ryan%20Photo%20%C2%A9%20H.%20Claire%20Photography%202022%20(2).jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Photo courtesy H. Claire Photography</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">USA Today</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> bestselling author <b>Annelise
Ryan</b> returns with the follow-up to her fascinating mystery, <i>A
Death in Door County</i> (2022): <b>DEATH IN THE DARK WOODS</b> (Berkley
Hardcover; on sale December 12, 2023).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9GNcJrXETJjvmzJGiAFPuqua0BWX-iEmogD_x3_PBOWJzstO5Hr7kMj7aKBZR9uNxE-MSTDuENscFCOJ0yPYvzGl3PWeUYCIip1XUuzl-aWwercGtvwpuhvp57ah7KrG4Yz9OW_5-C7VNhf8DiAwiQ3weEu4Qlv350RyOcpKBlaxCXeVeI1-LJ6Kh7o/s2775/Death%20in%20the%20Dark%20Woods%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1838" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9GNcJrXETJjvmzJGiAFPuqua0BWX-iEmogD_x3_PBOWJzstO5Hr7kMj7aKBZR9uNxE-MSTDuENscFCOJ0yPYvzGl3PWeUYCIip1XUuzl-aWwercGtvwpuhvp57ah7KrG4Yz9OW_5-C7VNhf8DiAwiQ3weEu4Qlv350RyOcpKBlaxCXeVeI1-LJ6Kh7o/s320/Death%20in%20the%20Dark%20Woods%20(2).jpg" width="212" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In <i>A Death in Door County (2022)</i>, Ryan introduced
readers to our dedicated, but always skeptical sleuth: Morgan Carter, owner of
the Odds and Ends bookstore in Door County, Wisconsin. When she’s not tending
the store, she’s hunting cryptids. And although this hobby cost her parents
their lives, it’s one she’ll never give up on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In <b>DEATH IN THE DARK WOODS</b>, Ryan tackles another
familiar mythical creature: Bigfoot! Business has been booming since
cryptozoologist Morgan Carter solved the case of the monster in Lake Michigan.
The Odds and Ends bookstore is thriving, of course, but Morgan is most excited
by the doors that were opened for her as a cryptid hunter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Recently, in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest area of
Bayfield County, Wisconsin, there have been numerous sightings of a
Bigfoot-type creature. Now, Morgan isn’t one to believe anything without
conclusive proof, but after a man is found dead from a vicious throat injury in
the forest, the conservation warden asks Morgan to investigate. So, is the
proof out there?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When Morgan and her dog, Newt, venture into the forest to
investigate they find a lot more than large footprints and large fuzzy shadows:
they uncover a trail of lies, deception…and murder. It seems a mysterious
creature is indeed living in the forest, and Morgan might be its next target.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> On to our interview!</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Welcome Annelise!</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Tell us a little about your background.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m a retired registered nurse who has
worked everything from birth (obstetrics) to death (hospice) with the majority
of my years spent in an ER setting. I’ve always been a voracious reader and
wanted to be a writer beginning as far back as I can remember. My family moved
a lot when I was in grade and middle school and I was always the new kid in
class, a tough row to hoe. I quickly discovered that by making up stories about
my life or people I’d known, things I’d seen, and places I’d been, stories that
made my life sound far more interesting than it really was, I attracted new
friends faster. My mother called it lying. I called it survival through
storytelling and I managed to turn it into a career! I’m also lying about who I
am because Annelise Ryan is a pseudonym. I have another pseudonym, too: Allyson
K. Abbott. My real name is Beth Amos. As a mystery writer and ER nurse, I
figured it was best to hide my writing identity because my ER patients might
not have been comfortable knowing their nurse spent her spare time thinking up
fun ways to kill people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Tell us a bit about your latest book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My most recent novel, DEATH IN THE DARK
WOODS, is the second book in my Monster Hunter Mystery series featuring
cryptozoologist, Morgan Carter. She likes to hunt for cryptids in her spare
time, creatures like the Loch Ness monster and Bigfoot. In this book, she
investigates reports of a homicidal Bigfoot on the loose in the north woods of
Wisconsin near the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior when a hunter and then a
fisherman turn up dead. The first book in the series, A DEATH IN DOOR COUNTY,
had her hunting for a Loch Ness-type monster in Lake Michigan. Are the deaths
caused by cryptids or is it humans who are the monsters? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And now for ROCCO’s in-depth questions: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">How
do you “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the
books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I like to think of
myself as a Dr. Frankenstein, piecing characters together with bits I’ve taken
from real people I’ve met or observed over the years. I’m sure this will sound
a bit crazy but they introduce themselves to me and reveal bits and pieces of
themselves over time through their actions and the conversations I have with
them in my head. (Then again, given my many identities via pseudonyms, maybe
it’s understandable that my characters talk to me.) Sometimes this little Igor
that resides in my brain tosses in a random piece I don’t know about, and I’m
then surprised by something a character wants, does, says, or needs. Those make
for fun, exciting moments in my writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="2" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">How
do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat
of your pants”?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Both. I turn in a 3 –
4-page synopsis to my publisher ahead of writing the book but it’s a fairly
generic outline I don’t feel locked into. The end result often bears only a
passing resemblance to the synopsis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="3" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Which
do you consider more important, plot or character?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Character. Hands
down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="4" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What
is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you
and keeps you motivated?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The biggest challenge
is getting noticed. It’s become even harder now that everyone and their uncle
can self-publish, and each book out there is but one drop of water in a vast
ocean. I no longer doubt my ability to write or tell a good story, but I used
to. My primary motivation, aside from deadlines, is this endless desire I have
to tell stories, to play God with a bunch of imaginary characters and toss
whatever I want at them to see how they survive…or don’t. It’s loads of fun!.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="5" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What
are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m currently writing
the third book in my Monster Hunter Mysteries featuring cryptozoologist, Morgan
Carter. I hope to continue this series as long as the publisher will have me.
I’m also working on a Christmas novella (for next year) featuring the
characters from my Mattie Winston Mystery series. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="6" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What
is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you
devote to writing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It varies from one
day to the next but most of my writing is done in the early afternoons,
typically 3-4 hours at a time. I write in some way every day, though some days
it consists of thought processes and mental exercises rather than time at the
keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="7" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If
you could take only three books with you for a year-long writing retreat
in a gorgeous setting with no library, which three would you take?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A dictionary. That’s
all. My imagination can do the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What advice do you have to offer to an
aspiring author?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If someone is writing
with the goal of getting published, they need to learn the business side of
writing as well as the craft. Read, read, read, both the genre you want to
write in and books related to the craft and business of writing. Persevere, and
don’t take yourself (or your writing) too seriously. Be willing to learn and
take criticism. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="9" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Where
can we learn more about you and your books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.anneliseryan.com/">www.anneliseryan.com</a><span style="color: black;"> or </span><a href="http://www.bethamos.com/">www.bethamos.com</a><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ad now....ROCCO’s Fast Five:
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What did
you do when you found out your first book was published?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When I first learned
it had sold to a publisher, I cried. Then whooped. When I found out it was
actually published and in stores it was late evening, and I was in my jammies.
I quickly dressed and ran out to the nearest bookstore (in a mall) and stood in
the store and cried once I saw it on the shelf. When I got home I realized I’d
forgotten to put on a bra before I headed out and was wearing my shirt inside
out. I never went into that particular bookstore again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What’s your
favorite part of the day?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Early morning when I
first get up and the whole day is waiting for me full of potential. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is
your favorite movie quote?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“As … you … wish!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What food
do you wish was calorie free? <o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Pasta. Well, all foods,
really. Except maybe liver. It can be as fattening as it wants because I’ll<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>never eat it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is
something you are really bad at?<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dieting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB">Folks you can find out more
about Annaelise here:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My books can be found in any physical
or online bookstore. The full list of titles can be found here: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.anneliseryan.com/">www.anneliseryan.com</a><span style="color: #353535;"> and also here: </span><a href="http://www.bethamos.com/">www.bethamos.com</a><span style="color: #353535;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As for me personally, I can be found
at several upcoming events. Check out this page, which is regularly updated: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.anneliseryan.com/events">www.anneliseryan.com/events</a><span style="color: #353535;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">GIVEAWAY TIME!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Berkley has contributed one hardcover copy of DEATH IN A DARK WOODS FOR ONE LUCKY COMMENTER!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">To enter, leave your name and email address in our comments section below. Maxx and Random.org will pick the lucky winner! US entrie only please!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Contest ends midnight, December 15</p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-91632659469670109132023-11-29T23:30:00.000-08:002023-11-29T23:30:00.140-08:00ROCCO'S END OF YEAR REVIEWS - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER<p> Ma-row! Let's close out 2023 with some great upcoming cozies for November/December! (And a sneak peek at January too)</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"> <b>MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Sherry Lynn</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Berkley Mass Market; November 7, 2023<u></u><u></u></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="234" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.8&permmsgid=msg-f:1776216620853287695&th=18a6639b1a1adb0f&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ9GpSySEOZVAcErq9_LzlMf3L0iQWnfixkJh7dIF9urY92uR_MYjh6YLTKW1RTkdehsCBYixq5JrXZg14zW5khI3pOUBP3MXcrx5rQZN7te9Y55NBd_DYAKKi4&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; height: 2.4333in; outline: 0px; width: 1.575in;" tabindex="0" width="151" /><u></u><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Landscape artist Kinsley Clark is back in a fresh new Maine-set holiday cozy, the second installment in Lyn’s Mainely Murder Mystery series. Kinsley has been re-hired to decorate the town of Harborside of the upcoming holiday season and boat parade, decking out the town with décor featuring local elements found in Maine. When local alderman Chris Chesterfield, dressed up as the Grinch, falls off the pier and into the icy Atlantic all eyes turn to Kinsley. Turns out Chris didn’t fall after all and what’s even more shocking is a revelation—he was looking to replace Kinsley with a different decorating team. Kinsley and friends must unearth the truth before she takes the fall in this <b>“solid series”,</b> according to <i>Kirkus</i> <i>Reviews</i>, out this fall.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Have to agree with the "solid series" review. Setting always brings to mind another Maine based series (Hint: Cabot Cove, the murder capital of Maine). Four and a half paws!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><u></u> <u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><u></u> <u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>BULLETPROOF BARISTA by Cleo Coyle<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover; on sale November 14, 2023<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.netgalley.com/widget/495730/redeem/2d6aef27fe607d8a7c29362ebc0aef6b9dee516a3865a4352b55c4db443c5e74&source=gmail&ust=1694192618586000&usg=AOvVaw0f4mcDiOn_WND7jtspPZGe" href="https://www.netgalley.com/widget/495730/redeem/2d6aef27fe607d8a7c29362ebc0aef6b9dee516a3865a4352b55c4db443c5e74" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Start reading here.</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Village Blend coffee shop is the scene of a true crime in the latest entry<u></u> <img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="259" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.6&permmsgid=msg-f:1776395289354311069&th=18a7061a9aa4159d&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ_yOY-h0w17hbZYoEGVu0muXWu8LxLsgQXokmcjYcD-2lOdhqrlCzlSIcv9g6iP2Xe1_TaWBM0WnTYAZSq3FsrP5zchn07aS3QEbNnsUJ_uP2AN8fu566u0jIU&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; height: 2.7in; outline: 0px; width: 1.7916in;" tabindex="0" width="172" /><u></u>in the beloved Coffeehouse Mysteries from <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Cleo Coyle. <b><i>Kirkus Reviews</i> raves, “Scads of red herrings, peeks behind the show-biz curtain, and bountiful appended recipes will leave fans smiling contentedly.”</b> When a hit TV show choses to spotlight the shop and its crew of baristas, master roaster Clare Cosi is beyond thrilled, especially when her superb bulletproof coffee lands her a craft services contract. Star Jerry Sullivan frequented the shop early in his career, but the past may hold more than nostalgia for Jerry. Then a real bullet is fired from a stage gun, and Clare becomes convinced something sinister is afoot. While Jerry’s production moves to exciting new locations, Clare keeps the coffee flowing—and her investigation going—even as a murderer lurks in the wings. But can she root out the rotten player in this Big Apple production before the lights go out on her?<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">This is one of our favorite series. We always root for Clare Cosi to find the clue that will solve the mystery. Five paws for an inventive plot and a series that never seems to run out of steam.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>CYANIDE AND SENSIBILITY by Kate Oliver<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Berkley Prime Crime Mass Market; on sale December 12, 2023<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.netgalley.com/widget/495731/redeem/f0103826e55afd3a25a059c293e5126a5c3c6b5992071e79f553bd654391f0db&source=gmail&ust=1694192618586000&usg=AOvVaw3jzkhNZdItvEt0OLy5e4Jv" href="https://www.netgalley.com/widget/495731/redeem/f0103826e55afd3a25a059c293e5126a5c3c6b5992071e79f553bd654391f0db" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Start reading here.</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="253" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.7&permmsgid=msg-f:1776395289354311069&th=18a7061a9aa4159d&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ9t9WGtkGqnkmUccMV9MCI5ncj9b5TTZ1Vo3zVumpDDD5KyhntEZH4fkQB-H2Wswrj2y_o19tyAD-aGDFmsCKrQcD9nqJ79MOkVKGS3EG1eGT32YwHSKbegI8Y&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; height: 2.6333in; outline: 0px; width: 1.5916in;" tabindex="0" width="153" /><u></u>While Phaedra Brighton might not have a Mr. Darcy (yet), she's quite content with her loving family and loyal cat. Phaedra’s sister Hannah is the Jane to her Elizabeth, and she’s ecstatic that Hannah is moving home for her next adventure—opening her very own patisserie. All of Laurel Springs comes out to celebrate the grand unveiling of Tout de Sweet, including local celebrity Rachel Brandon. But the celebration turns sour when one of Hannah’s confections sends Rachel’s assistant to the hospital with poisoning. Phaedra must help her sister save her reputation and her budding business, but first she must figure out: who was the cupcake actually meant for? And how far is the culprit willing to go to take their target off the menu—permanently?<b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><i>Kirkus Reviews</i> calls it, “Strictly for readers who think ‘choosing a gift for a romantic partner was a puzzle fit for Sherlock Holmes’,”</b> but I’ll let you be the judge of that! Great for readers who like to blend their cozies with a dash of romance.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>THE DOG ACROSS THE LAKE by Krista Davis<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Berkley Prime Crime Mass Market; on sale January 2, 2024<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.netgalley.com/widget/495732/redeem/00617c19a2b9f105b3bbfd90cb2f91d28e8d4dcd1c4a8fe2e3a8c1a261c70f1c&source=gmail&ust=1694192618586000&usg=AOvVaw01-jtCNUqo47RLV4bOBFr5" href="https://www.netgalley.com/widget/495732/redeem/00617c19a2b9f105b3bbfd90cb2f91d28e8d4dcd1c4a8fe2e3a8c1a261c70f1c" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Start reading here.</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="255" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.8&permmsgid=msg-f:1776395289354311069&th=18a7061a9aa4159d&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ8_aBSpXYQG82ZEUA9bIWn_kf5W4KZsB9YmBlKFF-IZulJ6irfg7HuTZ6rKjDT0PsOhZqNm7jzwYTkHQUi_BHwavnmo35NUC6KmelfC-fttn2QV5CAHFsRM07c&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; height: 2.6583in; outline: 0px; width: 1.625in;" tabindex="0" width="156" /><u></u><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">While relaxing on her terrace, Holly Miller spots an unfamiliar reddish-gold pooch across the lake. She’s intrigued, knowing most of the animals in Wagtail, but she never expected to find the very same dog smiling at her in bed when she wakes the next morning! Turns out, the wayward pooch belongs to Holly’s cousin Josh, whom she hasn’t seen in over a decade. He’s camping with his girlfriend across the lake, and Holly returns the cute dog to Josh’s campsite twice, but the second time, Josh and his girlfriend are nowhere to be found. Instead, a guest of the Sugar Maple Inn is dead in their tent. Now it's up to Holly and Trixie to suss out a sneaky killer. According to <b><i>Library Journal</i>, “Fans of the series will enjoy this latest, as will those who enjoy pet-centered mysteries.”</b><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>Another tried and true series featuring animals, of course! A definite thumbs up and five paws.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ5tyhr5ZMaFh_HQvJxHsLjiFGKwKrgQc0k-G-WrTJeXcf9uumShcHHphFz5Sq606tm2tQC2gKtDyjHe6tHplOtxaHwjBHHHr6Fsz7xX9xB47rvKlPuuCYHIxG96w2C8-jk8HruoioOIOM9-vWwc2tNxFeRe2WPCzQ0FHk5jPr3-cR2xO9RV_SUcs_b0I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="255" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ5tyhr5ZMaFh_HQvJxHsLjiFGKwKrgQc0k-G-WrTJeXcf9uumShcHHphFz5Sq606tm2tQC2gKtDyjHe6tHplOtxaHwjBHHHr6Fsz7xX9xB47rvKlPuuCYHIxG96w2C8-jk8HruoioOIOM9-vWwc2tNxFeRe2WPCzQ0FHk5jPr3-cR2xO9RV_SUcs_b0I" width="156" /></a></div><br /><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Sniffing Out Murder</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Kallie E. Benjamin</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">A Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">December 5, 2023/Trade Paperback</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Four and a half paws</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">When a murder unleashes a widespread investigation through Crosbyville, children’s book author Pris and her trusty bloodhound, Bailey, must sniff out the truth before the whole town goes to the dogs.</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />After deciding that life as a teacher wasn’t right for her, Priscilla found inspiration for her first children’s book in her three-year-old bloodhound’s nose for truth, and so </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Adventures of Bailey the Bloodhound</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> was born. After the book’s massively pawsitive response led Pris to move back to her hometown of Crosbyville, Indiana, to continue the series, she’s surprised by how things have changed in the town, but even more so how they haven’t.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Pris is frustrated to discover that newly elected school board trustee Whitney Kelley—a former high school mean girl—is intent on making Crosbyville more competitive by eliminating “frivolous spending” on the arts and social programs, including Pris and Bailey’s beloved pet-assisted reading program. A minor altercation between them isn’t anything unusual, but after Bailey sniffs out Whitney’s body in a bed of begonias, locals start hounding Pris and Bailey as suspects for the crime.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />With Bailey’s sharp senses and Pris’s hometown know-how, can they prove to the community that they’re all barking up the wrong tree?</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">this sounds right up our alley, merow!!!!! Good start to what looks to be an inventive series. Four and a alf paws!</span></div><div class="a-expander-header a-expander-partial-collapse-header" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; position: absolute; width: 801.2px;"><a aria-expanded="true" class="a-declarative" data-a-expander-toggle="{"allowLinkDefault":true, "expand_prompt":"Read more", "collapse_prompt":"Read less"}" data-action="a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-func-deps="aui-da-a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-id="nq9mh-idsqb7-qna56p-y7ln4d" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-csa-interaction-events="click" role="button" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185;"><i class="a-icon a-icon-extender-collapse" style="background-image: none; background-position: -94px -293px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 400px 900px; border-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 2px 2px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 7px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 0.385em; margin-top: -1px; opacity: 1; padding: 3px; position: relative; transform: rotate(-135deg); vertical-align: baseline; width: 7px;"></i></a></div><p></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-75860789269937001342023-11-10T08:31:00.002-08:002023-11-10T08:33:20.628-08:00THE BEST OF THE BEST - ROCCO REVIEWS 'MY COUSIN SKINNY'Merow!
As everyone knoww, here in the Lotempio household we are huge E.J. Copperman fans,particularly of his latest series, THE JERSEY GIRL MYSTERIES.
So of course when the human got her copy of the fifth entry, MY COUSIN SKINNY, I had to read it first!<div><br /></div><div> Copperman has truly outdone himself with this one, which we consider the best Jersey girl so far. Sandy, back in Jersey with Angie and Patrick for her cousin Stephanie (nickmaned Skinny)_'s wedding, finds herself caught up in drama when the bride emerges from the kitchen, bloodstained and weilding a knife, and the body of the best man is in the kitchen. there follows a puzzling mystery - several people were seen going into the kitchen. Could one of htem have killed the best man? Stephanie tags Sandy to be her lawyer, something Sandy is reluctant to do at first, but after some prodding from Patrick (and her mother, sister and Aunt) Sandy reluctantly takes on the case. although when "Skinny" keeps begging for plea deals she's more than a bit frustrated - and wondering if her cousin is, indeed, innnocent.</div><div><br /></div><div> Does Sandy manage to exonerate her cousin and solve the mystery of who killed Brandon Starkey?
You will have to get your copy of MY COUSIN SKINNY to find out. One thing we can promise you--this one is a thrill ride from start to finish!
Five Paws (we'd give it ten if Rocco had more paws)
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIN9NI9hkyZORRsrpiMOUP6ObYEqs00ZPNv1HKYIT8rb3lSlNwVpPmfEH6vNDDug5Yz0EEbeKqmzoXIiEGW5r36FVmC0k41qcuoyeLNr3quQkNoDFSoCFJwvSnrDCdNWgVD40kjOuRerxJWMFBrLidknIEe2KnIqW1_XZelSR6OMMJzk8G0BwJHDgsAY/s445/Cousin%20Skinny.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIN9NI9hkyZORRsrpiMOUP6ObYEqs00ZPNv1HKYIT8rb3lSlNwVpPmfEH6vNDDug5Yz0EEbeKqmzoXIiEGW5r36FVmC0k41qcuoyeLNr3quQkNoDFSoCFJwvSnrDCdNWgVD40kjOuRerxJWMFBrLidknIEe2KnIqW1_XZelSR6OMMJzk8G0BwJHDgsAY/s320/Cousin%20Skinny.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-5187845294602108342023-11-07T08:58:00.001-08:002023-11-07T08:58:00.140-08:00ROCCO spotlights TWILIGHT FALLS<p> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">TWILIGHT FALLS </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">by</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Juneau Black</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Vintage; 11/7/23), the fourth book in the Shady Hollow cozy mystery series, is the newest instalment in this popular series. In this one, our intrepid reporter Vera Vixen is embroiled in a case involving star-crossed lovers whose affair may have turned deadly.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">The first three—SHADY HOLLOW, COLD CLAY, and MIRROR LAKE, were published in early 2022 and received <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/11/books/review/new-crime-fiction.html&source=gmail&ust=1695486649475000&usg=AOvVaw1MmGJpjZyLNXcKoAzA8SKP" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/11/books/review/new-crime-fiction.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">a rave review from Sarah Weinman in the NYT</span></a> who called them her “<b>favorite new comfort reads</b>.” The first book is a repeat regional indie bestseller, is on its sixth printing, and sells consistently. And as a reminder, Juneau Black is the pseudonym <wbr></wbr>of two former Boswell Book Company booksellers in Milwaukee who came up with the idea for this series while pricing finger puppets.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">These books are a true delight—you will find yourself wanting to grab a coffee and pistachio morning bun from Joe’s Mug, to peruse the shelves at Nevermore Books, and to enjoy freshly popped popcorn while joining in the Apple Blossom Walk. Oh, and solving the murder right along with Vera, of course! Four and a half paws.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.netgalley.com/widget/499619/redeem/40f74e14737d2899ee8ebcd66bd53413b5f1b76dab9d4d075179f33afed9de0c&source=gmail&ust=1695486649475000&usg=AOvVaw0MAqlpfwbttkTx_-Uzkknx" href="https://www.netgalley.com/widget/499619/redeem/40f74e14737d2899ee8ebcd66bd53413b5f1b76dab9d4d075179f33afed9de0c" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #f2761c; font-family: Raleway-Regular; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="207" id="m_5613819274487468090Picture_x0020_1" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1777677053047367150&th=18ab93dc784065ee&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ-t5874JG87iCGLvyCB25P4PdNDiNsztHcQEoDz37fgEG1MpyJeT4ClpS7M9voj_Gm55j_GKx7LpeGrfI5PhizHRI3UkUM9pEqKkiuvOnF70TtC4OQxhXVh3aA&disp=emb" width="134" /></span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>The fourth book in the Shady Hollow mystery series sees Vera embroiled in a case involving star-crossed lovers whose affair may have turned deadly.</b><br /><br />It's spring in Shady Hollow, and romance is in the air. Even reporter Vera Vixen is caught up in the season as her relationship with new police chief Orville Braun blossoms. But true love is not always smooth sailing, as two of the hollow's young residents come to find. Jonah Atwater and Stasia von Beaverpelt find themselves battling their families in order to be together. And when Jonah's father, Shelby, goes over the top of Twilight Falls, all signs point to Stasia being the murderer. <br /><br />The evidence against Stasia appears overwhelming, and Orville arrests her. It looks like the case is closed, but Vera isn't so sure. There are almost too many clues indicating Stasia is the killer, leading her to suspect someone is setting Stasia up. Besides, what about the mysterious ghostly creature skulking around town at night? Maybe he or she was involved? As Vera investigates further, her sleuthing puts her in direct opposition to Orville, and soon she's stirred up a hornet's nest of trouble.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><u>Praise for the Shady Hollow Mystery Series<u></u><u></u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">“The plotting is sharp, the prose lean and the atmosphere pure joy. Vixen and the rest of the critters never feel like anthropomorphic Disney cartoon characters. I eagerly await a fresh infusion of Shady Hollow mayhem."<br /><b>—Sarah Weinman, <i>The New York Times</i></b><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">“Offers sunshine and murder in perfect proportion to keep readers entertained and engrossed.” <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="color: black;">—<b>Shelf Awareness</b></span></i><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">“An absolutely delightful cozy read… An remarkable empathy is also on display in these pages, putting this book firmly in the category of heartwarming reads despite the murders it chronicles.”</span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">—Criminal Element</span><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">“<i>Watership Down</i> meets Mickey Spillane. A mystery of rare and sinister charm.”</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">—<b>Alan Bradley, <i>New York Times </i>bestselling author of the Flavia de Luce series</b><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">“A magical confection that will leave you nostalgic for the storybooks of your youth. It’s quirky and clever, charming and smart. I read <i>Shady Hollow</i> in one sitting and can’t wait for more!”</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">—Sarah Addison Allen, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of <i>First Frost</i></span></b><span style="color: black;"><br /><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“Get ready to fall in love with <i>Shady Hollow </i>and its quirky cast of animal characters. Charming and clever, Juneau Black will take readers on delightful ride as the mystery unfolds. I can’t wait to read more!”</span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">—Amy E. Reichert, author of <i>The Kindred Spirits Supper Club</i></span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></b><span style="color: black;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<i>Shady Hollow</i> must be the coziest of cozy crime stories. I not only enjoyed reading about it—I want to live there, surrounded by enigmatic pandas, diligent mice and well-read corvids. I have to try the food, listen to the gossip and visit the tiny café—and I don’t even care that there is a murderer on the loose!”</span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">—Leonie Swann, bestselling author of <i>Three Bags Full</i></span></b></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-49627625063922405022023-10-27T11:12:00.003-07:002023-10-27T11:12:49.829-07:00SPOTLIGHT ON SHADY HOLLOW MYSTERIES!<p> Ma-Row!</p><p><br /></p><p>We recently came across a new (well new to us) series that we'd like to introduce you to! the Shady Hollow Mysteries!</p><p><br /></p><p>Set in the fictional town of Shady Hollow, the cast of characters is quite unique in that they are all animals! there' Vera Vixen, a very foxy reporter (mainly because she is a fox - a four footed one) who's got a real nose for trouble and always seeks the truth; Lenore Lee, the raven in charge of the town's bookshop who loves a good mystery, on paper or in real life; Chief of Police Theodore Meade, a bear of a fellow (no pun intended) a brawny individual who's usually more intersted in fishing than crime solving; Dorothy Springfield, a rat who likes to get in the middle of things; Gladys Honysuckle, the town gossip; and so many more!</p><p>The first volume, SHADY HOLLOW, introduces us to the town and its quirky characters in the form of the murder of a curmudgeonly toad. Reporter Vera Vixen is, of course, on the job --and her investigations turn up more than one skeleton in quite a few closets! We found ourselves solving the murder right along with Vera!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifg55tNV0CiVHWEgNWk0scgNDFISXsNaGS6mYEzPCnlxG6xQxBVOlpG-mpLbMgXNVmYv6Floarb7XcRw5k25UGgzkkHvrObJYEv2LPR9CGg03SSKGVb8QVhkrohhDfjTalDQRDbCV7eIEpS9TR9L9unqH4KFLgw_IgTwjJsPSmsPtYV5OaOkHQ41XjbNM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifg55tNV0CiVHWEgNWk0scgNDFISXsNaGS6mYEzPCnlxG6xQxBVOlpG-mpLbMgXNVmYv6Floarb7XcRw5k25UGgzkkHvrObJYEv2LPR9CGg03SSKGVb8QVhkrohhDfjTalDQRDbCV7eIEpS9TR9L9unqH4KFLgw_IgTwjJsPSmsPtYV5OaOkHQ41XjbNM" width="155" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>In the second volume, COLD CLAY, <span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">some long-buried secrets come to light, throwing suspicion on a beloved local denizen.</span></p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRukEv_RlKi5GdEZ5dG61W6Omm6I2p0oxNMyuuXxovU6TJ10HTDpRoBIqo_uDaIxKsgwx2HwUR6EOOSpKENOBVxlPGyZRZtfTv1NzNXcckpR4qoY9EGeedXMGhM_s8K0RaHG7Haz8qokdmuDhuyfoh0Aqv_tDB3HisIJy687yrVfGmN9UD49DSFcUZSaE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRukEv_RlKi5GdEZ5dG61W6Omm6I2p0oxNMyuuXxovU6TJ10HTDpRoBIqo_uDaIxKsgwx2HwUR6EOOSpKENOBVxlPGyZRZtfTv1NzNXcckpR4qoY9EGeedXMGhM_s8K0RaHG7Haz8qokdmuDhuyfoh0Aqv_tDB3HisIJy687yrVfGmN9UD49DSFcUZSaE" width="155" /></a></div><br /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It's autumn in Shady Hollow, and residents are looking forward to harvest feasts. But then a rabbit discovers a grisly crop: the bones of a moose.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Soon, the owner of Joe's Mug is dragged out of the coffeeshop and questioned by the police about the night his wife walked out of his life—and Shady Hollow—forever. It seems like an open-and-shut case, but dogged reporter Vera Vixen doesn't believe gentle Joe is a killer. She'll do anything to prove his innocence ... even if it means digging into secrets her neighbors would rather leave buried.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">The third novel in the Shady Hollow mystery series, is MIRROR LAKE, n which Vera Vixen takes on her most challenging case yet: solving the murder of a rat who appears to still be alive.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij7z7YwaOf4F-xIZk1YgeVeE95URKHLw6QrpPPPGNfBLpmPY50qym0F-M9vBsbZC67T16p1O45M58hpMeM74aOyKhrIUyQgyJO4BSq0USmKAryPLZcALEQqWrh864vbo374QGrJLWf8ZQpa8u5CEWaf6zY73c_rBpI-ewv0F8KRDPb3p2xJCEWXwtVLyI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij7z7YwaOf4F-xIZk1YgeVeE95URKHLw6QrpPPPGNfBLpmPY50qym0F-M9vBsbZC67T16p1O45M58hpMeM74aOyKhrIUyQgyJO4BSq0USmKAryPLZcALEQqWrh864vbo374QGrJLWf8ZQpa8u5CEWaf6zY73c_rBpI-ewv0F8KRDPb3p2xJCEWXwtVLyI" width="155" /></a></div><br /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Change is afoot in Shady Hollow, with an unusually tense election shaping up between long-serving Chief of Police Theodore Meade and Vera's beau, Deputy Orville Braun. But the political tension takes a back seat when resident eccentric Dorothy Springfield becomes convinced her beloved husband, Edward, is dead, and that the rat claiming to be him is actually a fraud.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />While most of the town dismisses Dorothy's rants as nothing more than a delusion, Vera has her doubts. More than a few things don't add up in the Springfield household, but Vera will have to tread carefully, since, with Orville's attention on the election, she may be more exposed than ever.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p>Which brings us to the latest entry, out November 7th - TWILIGHT FALLS. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZciEPUvDnCZLbOsQfoO9X-UTW0zk2b9zsL_JpP8_5t3bgBirBe7v8vaawXRpHYYLMcxzq-9aCzZLqQllMh8y2koj74xzadjdSaxwL2_cq8WBRVYT27OS46ePSK8RlxNz6BBD9c6ZuL_Y4ipuvZrP3quPPzECYDY3jmz4qxCFsEVLhBOXj6sQBDAC5epE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZciEPUvDnCZLbOsQfoO9X-UTW0zk2b9zsL_JpP8_5t3bgBirBe7v8vaawXRpHYYLMcxzq-9aCzZLqQllMh8y2koj74xzadjdSaxwL2_cq8WBRVYT27OS46ePSK8RlxNz6BBD9c6ZuL_Y4ipuvZrP3quPPzECYDY3jmz4qxCFsEVLhBOXj6sQBDAC5epE" width="155" /></a></div><br /><p> Our gal Vera gets embroiled in a case involving a pair of star crossed lovers - which Vera can relate to, since she's involved in her own relationship with police chief Orville Braun. Shades of Romeo and Juliet overshadow this mystery of young residents battling their families to find true love - and when the father of one of them goes over the falls, Vera takes it upon herself to find out whodunit, even though her sleuthing puts her in opposition with Orville, which, of course, doens't bode well for their relationship!</p><p><br /></p><p>Intrigued? Would you like to win a copy of Shady Hollow, the first book in the series? If so, leave a comment with your email address in our comments section below! ROCCO's brother Maxx will select one lucky winner at random! US residents only please. Contest ends midnight, November 7th!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifg55tNV0CiVHWEgNWk0scgNDFISXsNaGS6mYEzPCnlxG6xQxBVOlpG-mpLbMgXNVmYv6Floarb7XcRw5k25UGgzkkHvrObJYEv2LPR9CGg03SSKGVb8QVhkrohhDfjTalDQRDbCV7eIEpS9TR9L9unqH4KFLgw_IgTwjJsPSmsPtYV5OaOkHQ41XjbNM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="194" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifg55tNV0CiVHWEgNWk0scgNDFISXsNaGS6mYEzPCnlxG6xQxBVOlpG-mpLbMgXNVmYv6Floarb7XcRw5k25UGgzkkHvrObJYEv2LPR9CGg03SSKGVb8QVhkrohhDfjTalDQRDbCV7eIEpS9TR9L9unqH4KFLgw_IgTwjJsPSmsPtYV5OaOkHQ41XjbNM" width="155" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-49225254093259009832023-10-13T08:51:00.001-07:002023-10-13T08:51:00.149-07:00ROCCO'S Cozy Reviews for October!<p> Ma-Row! Let's see what's in store for October!</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>SUGAR PLUM POISONED by Jenn McKinlay<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Berkley Mass Market; October 10, 2023<u></u><u></u></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u><img align="right" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="244" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.5&permmsgid=msg-f:1776216620853287695&th=18a6639b1a1adb0f&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ_vskBUYLYeATU_t55IvgSiz4ZHXuu4A51jfcwebiey7WgfJzOhCeCJiW08xbRyIfOXEye220BhczM1bDDgnveRErd1H4hmRXaaBEpxYzfEYdkvGjtP1ZuE2eo&disp=emb" style="height: 2.5416in; width: 1.55in;" width="149" /><u></u>It’s Christmastime in Scottsdale in the newest entry in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series from <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Jenn McKinlay. According to <i>Kirkus Reviews</i>, <b>“Multitudes of motives make it difficult to catch the killer in this sweet tale.” </b>When country music star Shelby Vaughn arrives in town for a concert series, she hires her old friend Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to cater for her VIP guests. It’s a sweet gig, and despite Shelby’s heated argument with her manager, Mel and the crew decide to make the best of it. But things turn sour wen Shelby’s manager is found dead, clutching a cupcake and a bit of fabric from a Santa suit. When all suspicions lead back to Shelby, Mel and Angie stand up for their friend, determined to prove her innocence before she’s frosted for a crime she didn’t commit.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">We love any book by Jenn McKinlay! This one has a "sweet" plot and lots of action! Followers of this series will not be disappointed! Five paws!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>BAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT by Sarah Fox<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Berkley Mass Market; October 10, 2023<u></u><u></u></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u><img align="right" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="238" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.6&permmsgid=msg-f:1776216620853287695&th=18a6639b1a1adb0f&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ98_VPcHhpxmDJjFF1Gc3oN1VS1tiIL1aZ7NeSTHB1fQ_aV2TOyVD0iWIZvEPE5wsQa_wBBMBNzXZYN7QTI-1CRhh0C49PTsvHAt6o8SpvsqfDNKMVHFKkjYMA&disp=emb" style="height: 2.4833in; width: 1.5166in;" width="146" /><u></u>The trades have already weighed in on USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox’s second entry in the True Confections Mystery series, with <i>Kirkus Reviews</i> calling the novel, <b>“As sweet as its many sugar-infused puns.</b>” Winter has arrived in Larch Haven, Vermont, bringing with it holiday cheer, lots of snow and the annual “Baking Spirits Bright” holiday baking competition. As Becca preps to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, complete with a cake mountain, gingerbread cottages, and sugar-glass canals, she’s up against [some sort of candy pun for stiff competition]. The competition quickly heats to a boiling point, with flaring tempers and mysterious happenings. When one of the entrants is found dead, stabbed with Becca’s chocolate chipper, Becca tries to salvage the season by finding the killer. But the heat is on, and Becca is in danger of getting burned.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Can we ever get enough of culinary mysteries? Lots of baking ones this month, and Sarah Fox shines with this tale. Four and a half paws</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><u></u> <u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>THE TWELVE BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS by Kate Carlisle<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover; October 24, 2023<u></u><u></u></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="234" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.7&permmsgid=msg-f:1776216620853287695&th=18a6639b1a1adb0f&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ88R6-IDK1Z3h3e2w5fXiIbq1VLnoQFOOKNpYgJLT1zYzBHsFTOqcKJ7J7kWsIbsumXxmaN6olzTO4PabQ7pGnQ2ejtVfLuolaC3uu9QI0JKRrpHmRECkVncpo&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; height: 2.4333in; outline: 0px; width: 1.6083in;" tabindex="0" width="154" /><u></u><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">This is the first ever Christmas mystery in the <i>New York Times</i> bestselling Bibliophile Mystery series, ripe with <b>“pleasing characters and vivid descriptions of glorious Scotland”</b> according to <i>Kirkus Reviews</i>! In this Christmassy chapter Brooklyn and Derek travel to Scotland for business and pleasure—to bare witness to their dear friend Claire’s marriage to her [dashing beau] and to solve a little mystery in the castle library; twelve very rare, very important books have gone missing! Once in Scotland, as Brooklyn starts working on the mystery of the missing books, bumps in the night lead to the deaths of two guests, and Brooklyn and Derek will have to race to find a killer and a book thief in this tricky Christmas tale.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">This series is a personal favorite of ours! We love reading about Brooklyn's adventures and solving the mysteries (always book related) right along with her and her hunk of a husband, Derek! And in meow opinion, never too early to read about Christmas! Not necessary to read others in the series to catch up but it is highly recommended! Five Paws.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b>PAWS TO REMEMBER by Sofie Kelly<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover; on sale October 17, 2023<u></u><u></u></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="271" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.5&permmsgid=msg-f:1776395289354311069&th=18a7061a9aa4159d&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ_AfSj6y4NwUpMRUwokBD82WlftULAQILuDuVm2eHMOSzSWGRkzweUahZm_5hHIgCRGU037P82U7fM8iCfsJ2J8FDjZO4JniB6X-ocdI_LroeQz1p1ABSO6Nzo&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; height: 2.825in; outline: 0px; width: 1.8in;" tabindex="0" width="173" /><u></u>Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her enchanted felines return in the latest installment in the <i>New York Times</i> bestselling Magical Cats series. Cat lovers and fans of the series will be pleased, as <b><i>Kirkus Reviews</i> notes the novel is “Heavy on the world of continuing characters, with a few cat moments thrown in as crowd pleasers.”</b> When a water leak repair results in a body being found behind the walls of the store run by the artists’ co-op that Kathleen's friend Maggie is part of, everyone is completely mystified as to whose body it is and who hid it there. But as the dust settles, Kathleen's boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, begins to suspect that the body could belong to a young woman who disappeared more than thirty years ago. When a friend with a connection to the young woman asks Kathleen to look into the circumstances around the disappearance, she and her cats—who have a special feline talent for catching felons—find themselves digging up secrets that at least one person in Mayville Heights would <i>much </i>prefer stay buried.<u>\</u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u><br /></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u><br /></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u>Another fine entry in this tried and true series. I mean one magical cat is phenomenal but two!!!!!! And we love solving the mysteries right along with Kathleen. Once again, it can be read as a standalone, but we highly recommend starting with book one! Five Paws!</u></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-37449081302482691552023-09-19T11:03:00.001-07:002023-09-19T11:03:00.141-07:00ROCCO SPOTLIGHTS MURDER AND MAMON<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This fall, readers can expect the next deliciously deadly installment in Agatha Award-winning author</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mia P. Manansala</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries.</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="308" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.9&permmsgid=msg-f:1776319690331887515&th=18a6c158d5c3979b&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ8-0RqzaFDlNtgq_6YCQpkZxg0y7pJ1UgqfGZxiyJ7y-XLUazJx3U21NBECit5h4vgM_y2LV1i28vaet8x4eSCZcnoPbo2K1RwJ0-jd-t8QRenDMQBAuBXSPOU&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="205" /><u></u><b><u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Lila Macapagal lives in small town Shady Palms, Illinois, where she and her relatives run Tita Rosie’s Kitchen. They serve delicious Filipino dishes, and they solve crimes on the side. In<b> MURDER AND MAMON </b>(Berkley Prime Crime Trade Original; on sale September 19, 2023), the fourth highly anticipated novel in Manansala’s series, homicide follows Lila and her aunties to the grand opening of their new laundromat—and Lila will have to air out everyone’s dirty laundry to find the killer.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The grand opening of Lila’s family’s new laundromat quickly turns from celebration to tragedy when the building is vandalized and a relative who recently came to visit from the Philippines is found dead inside. The Calendar Crew (Lila’s crime-solving aunties, April, Mae, and June) have stuck their noses into everybody’s business for years. Now, the tables have turned as Lila must pry into the Calendar Crew’s lives to figure out who has a vendetta against the aunties and stop them before they strike again.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Manansala’s books embrace the conventions of the cozy genre while also expanding them, introducing readers to a modern Filipino heroine who faces real, relatable issues as she solves mysteries. <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>MURDER AND MAMON</b> is perfect for readers of Jesse Q. Sutanto and Roselle Lim, and for fans of cozy mysteries and romantic comedies.<u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><u></u> </p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-19716391634887312732023-08-23T09:18:00.000-07:002023-08-23T09:18:07.262-07:00ROCCO reviews Laura Child's HONEY DROP DEAD!<p> La<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">ura Childs’s</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">HONEY DROP DEAD </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Berkley Hardcover; August 8,</span><u style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></u><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><img align="right" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="246" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.2&permmsgid=msg-f:1773221129097660403&th=189bbf38d41547f3&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ_CvoCknnWXrdEiR7hqcfxLD1LBz6KoU6EZ5_IBqWNFZKmDByFJj3ufaye0tMCecIqjiLdCtOD8K8nWO0hrYzqtO7mnitxxaVM4TYvyJUEyRkkbwt-WDzX7Vco&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; height: 2.5583in; outline: 0px; width: 1.625in;" tabindex="0" width="156" /><u></u>2023), the latest installment her beloved <i>New York Times</i> bestselling Tea Shop Mystery series! <i>Kirkus Reviews</i> raves, “Historic Charleston and cream teas are a perfect backdrop for genteel murder and mayhem.”<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Murder and political intrigue are teatime guests as chaos erupts at tea maven Theodosia Brownings elegant event. A phony beekeeper sprays toxic smoke at the guests, and then a shot rings out. Osgood Claxton III, a candidate for state legislature, is dead. As Theodosia investigates, against the pleas of her friends, she learns there are many people who might want to see the politico dead, and uncovered secrets threaten to turn this tragic event into a political disaster.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">ROCCO's Review:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Once again we are treated to the investigative prowess of Theodosia Browning and her inimitable sidekick Drayton! the notion of a phony beekeeper is certainly original and a departure from something that Theodosia has investigated before. Theo indulges in her favorite past time: snooping around, and Drayton is a loyal, if at times hesitant, assistant! Theo whittles down the list of suspects in her usual fashion and provides an enjoyable read. Those not famiiar with the series can easily pick it up, but once you get hooked on Theo you will want to read all of her adventures from the beginning! The recipes at the back of the book are always a nice bonus! The ending is in my opinion the most dramatic and unexpected one yet! Can't wait to see how Theo and Riley's relatonship continues to progress going forward. A definite five paws!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">GIVEAWAY!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">Laura Childs has donated a copy of HONEY DROP DEAD as a giveaway to one lucky commenter! To enter, leave your name and e-mail address in our comments section below! ROCCO's brother Maxx will select one lucky winner at random form the entries (U.S. only, please) Contest ends midnight, Saturday September 2nd.</p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-89288620682512370122023-08-04T11:34:00.001-07:002023-08-04T11:34:00.148-07:00ROCCO' S AUGUST COZY REVIEWS!<p>Ma-Row! Here are my cozy reviews for August!</p><p>Starting off with an old favorite:</p><p><br /></p><p>A TROUBLING TAIL</p><p>Laurie Cass</p><p>Bookmobile cat mystery</p><p>MMPB/Berkley/8/1/23</p><p>Five Stars!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYR9LXQww9y7ssV6ZaJYKMlWLrMTcB_AQtTwXGE34WTap1nh91o7U1CIvyB19lhwlnCVG8Hbee8sGW1gKaMqxFgTqbJpItlGv-OKGMFcMy3veHiRIa51aZ3RPPWcSrvAYa71a3YgI88Lkxy4EaNKf0Xqn-RjcHpyEoS_Up42lLzF_T312-zagDOua4A0/s499/A%20Troubling%20Tail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYR9LXQww9y7ssV6ZaJYKMlWLrMTcB_AQtTwXGE34WTap1nh91o7U1CIvyB19lhwlnCVG8Hbee8sGW1gKaMqxFgTqbJpItlGv-OKGMFcMy3veHiRIa51aZ3RPPWcSrvAYa71a3YgI88Lkxy4EaNKf0Xqn-RjcHpyEoS_Up42lLzF_T312-zagDOua4A0/s320/A%20Troubling%20Tail.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">When the owner of a local candy store is murdered, librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, prepare to find the sweet spot to solve a crime.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The charming town of Chilson, Michigan, is beautiful in the spring, and local librarian Minnie and her cat Eddie are delivering great reads far and wide on one of the first warm days of the year. But a chill sweeps through them when they discover that one of their favorite patrons, the local candy store owner, has been found murdered. Although Minnie can't understand who could have a motive to murder such a kind man, she determines that the sticky problem isn't hers to solve.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">However, when rumors start flying around town and the police have no leads, Minnie decides to throw her investigative hat into the ring. The more Minnie investigates, the less certain she is that the victim's past is as wholesome as his reputation. But Minnie has plenty of experience unearthing inconvenient truths, and she and Eddie won't rest until they determine how the candy store owner met his bitter end.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">We never tire of the adventures of Minnie and her delightful tabby cat Eddie, even after 11 volumes! Even though Minnie does the heavy lifting it's Eddie who steals the show! New and old fans alike will fall in love Five stars</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A DEADLY DEDICATION</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Margaret Louden</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Open Book Mystery</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">MMPB/August 1, 2023/ Four and a half stars</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">When murder taints writer-in-residence Penelope Parish’s charming British bookshop, she must follow the clues to catch a killer before tempers boil over.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Penelope Parish thought she’d turned the page on her amateur sleuthing days but when the owner of Upper Chumley-on-Stokes’ proposed first high-end gourmet shop is poisoned, the American novelist starts to wonder if she and her quaint British town are in for another rewrite. It turns out that not everyone was a fan of Simeon Foster’s farm-sourced charcuterie and imported pastries—many of the locals were outraged by the potential new competition.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />With a full menu of suspects on her hands, this just might be Penelope’s toughest case yet. Luckily, her friends at the Open Book are there to help with every twist of the poisoned pen.</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A nice mystery, good for a rainy day, with a plucky sleuth, good characters and a charming cat. Who could ask for more?</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS914E22_nn5g08rGvLT7jdoL8Lnj5TTmzImIfQGvJOUnLb27QfVJjaSl9AezDc4YbeQ-T2CsaZB6qBbNT3rRS1fOge-ZpBvhJj5E1HYySs6RWiLKWEYmgqXUwxLf8q3zFl0JPIirZ4st9X-P3ijToIjkuF40Dn2ZpS9gB5P7hod4ewyaGM63qfxpTQk0/s499/Deadly%20Dedication.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS914E22_nn5g08rGvLT7jdoL8Lnj5TTmzImIfQGvJOUnLb27QfVJjaSl9AezDc4YbeQ-T2CsaZB6qBbNT3rRS1fOge-ZpBvhJj5E1HYySs6RWiLKWEYmgqXUwxLf8q3zFl0JPIirZ4st9X-P3ijToIjkuF40Dn2ZpS9gB5P7hod4ewyaGM63qfxpTQk0/s320/Deadly%20Dedication.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">HONEY DROP DEAD</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">LAURA CHILDS</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A TEA SHOP MYSTERY</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">HC/8/8/23/ FIVE STARS</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Theodosia’s Honey Bee Tea was an elegant affair set in Charleston’s new Petigru Park amid newly planted native grasses and a community beekeeping project. But when a phony beekeeper shows up and sprays toxic smoke at the guests, the party erupts in chaos. Worse yet, a shot rings out and Osgood Claxton III, candidate for state legislature, falls to the ground—dead.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Holly Burns, the gallery owner who asked Theodosia to cater the tea, is understandably heartbroken. A man is dead, her guests are angry and injured, and the paintings that were on display are left in tatters. When the police don’t seem to have a clue, when old-line politicos don’t want questions asked, Holly begs Theodosia to run a shadow investigation and help restore her gallery’s good name.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Between hosting a </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">Wind in the Willows</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Tea and a Glam Girl Tea, Theodosia questions everyone that had a bone to pick with Claxton. This includes Booker, an angry outsider artist; Lamar Lucket, Claxton’s political opponent; and Mignon Merriweather, the dead man’s soon-to-be ex-wife. But the investigation becomes a political hot potato following a second murder, the revelation of a messy affair, a chase through a swamp, and a vandalized shop.</span></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Note: This is the synopsis. We will review this book on a separate posting in August!</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuGLClR03xmWg4bTOpWyVpyziVfWsJg4IkL4M8D8VpgjxztIT1xHzkORZNhKA4RvAIBEkGFCdHj4HhAf8mpT6mGfQMTKtBlXOZOFhihJJ0kCozGDCSkcWhNWEPeGmybgLRgIAYHI3COkACKLGfUBrksojqR8qzpGgmCC99T41DWPVzm2n4slI4-cc9Go/s499/Childs%20Honey%20Drop%20Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuGLClR03xmWg4bTOpWyVpyziVfWsJg4IkL4M8D8VpgjxztIT1xHzkORZNhKA4RvAIBEkGFCdHj4HhAf8mpT6mGfQMTKtBlXOZOFhihJJ0kCozGDCSkcWhNWEPeGmybgLRgIAYHI3COkACKLGfUBrksojqR8qzpGgmCC99T41DWPVzm2n4slI4-cc9Go/s320/Childs%20Honey%20Drop%20Dead.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Theodosia’s Honey Bee Tea was an elegant affair set in Charleston’s new Petigru Park amid newly planted native grasses and a community beekeeping project. But when a phony beekeeper shows up and sprays toxic smoke at the guests, the party erupts in chaos. Worse yet, a shot rings out and Osgood Claxton III, candidate for state legislature, falls to the ground—dead.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Holly Burns, the gallery owner who asked Theodosia to cater the tea, is understandably heartbroken. A man is dead, her guests are angry and injured, and the paintings that were on display are left in tatters. When the police don’t seem to have a clue, when old-line politicos don’t want questions asked, Holly begs Theodosia to run a shadow investigation and help restore her gallery’s good name.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Between hosting a </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">Wind in the Willows</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Tea and a Glam Girl Tea, Theodosia questions everyone that had a bone to pick with Claxton. This includes Booker, an angry outsider artist; Lamar Lucket, Claxton’s political opponent; and Mignon Merriweather, the dead man’s soon-to-be ex-wife. But the investigation becomes a political hot potato following a second murder, the revelation of a messy affair, a chase through a swamp, and a vandalized shop.</span></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">This next one debuted in May, but we love this series so we're including it here!</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><br /></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">Domestic Diva Series</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">Krista Davis</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">HC/Kensington/May 23, 2023/five Stars</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><br /></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;"> In the </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author’s enormously popular culinary cozy series featuring a young Martha Stewart in the making, the maven of entertaining and sometimes sleuth Sophie Winston. Delicious recipes and a picturesque setting make this a delight for fans of Diane Mott Davidson and M.C. Beaton as Sophie must see through the lies of the potential suspects and try to keep a killer at a convention of ghost kitchens from making a ghost of one of the guests…</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sophie is busy handling the first ever convention of the Association of Ghost Kitchens—restaurants that do delivery only—but she’s taking a little time out for a lunch meeting organized by A Healthy Meal. The group is dedicated to providing meals for children in need, and as a bonus, it’ll give Sophie the perfect opportunity to ogle the lavish Old Town home of socialite Geraldine Stansfield. Gerrie’s dining room is impeccably furnished, the table laden with gleaming crystal and prized china. If it weren’t for the dead man lying on the floor, everything would be perfect . . .<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />No one knows the victim—or at least, no one claims to. But a little snooping by Sophie reveals links to many local notables. In fact, not only was he a client of Geraldine’s late husband, an attorney—every member of the Stansfield clan knew the deceased. But only one knows what he was doing in Gerrie’s <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFWeCBuurbk_jeNfyZPGtPq5B0pF-c0tuSKrsxmHR-aC52IvK0wROocsJwSU4_1ltAoYdBiCWaW4HImgrl8llm_HQY593kfH6Fr7Co7f_fY4jrgSMwfLpargwxkytINJxvAE1VsyhYaHNklFzSWswM4A5FLueR8GPcZVbnPy-um0XdU5uHQOgQctFrJ4/s499/Diva%20Delivers%20Promise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFWeCBuurbk_jeNfyZPGtPq5B0pF-c0tuSKrsxmHR-aC52IvK0wROocsJwSU4_1ltAoYdBiCWaW4HImgrl8llm_HQY593kfH6Fr7Co7f_fY4jrgSMwfLpargwxkytINJxvAE1VsyhYaHNklFzSWswM4A5FLueR8GPcZVbnPy-um0XdU5uHQOgQctFrJ4/s320/Diva%20Delivers%20Promise.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />house.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Gerrie’s elegant abode looks spotless, but there’s plenty of dirty linen in those family closets. Now Sophie will have to get the killer to come clean before he spoils another appetite—for good . . .<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sophie solves a mystery, makes delicious food, interacts with Natasha and may or may not be getting back with her ex-husband. Sounds like a good time to us!!!!! Love this series which never disappoints. So glad Kensington picked it up!!!!! Five paws! </span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><div class="a-expander-header a-expander-partial-collapse-header" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; position: absolute; width: 834px;"><a aria-expanded="true" class="a-declarative" data-a-expander-toggle="{"allowLinkDefault":true, "expand_prompt":"Read more", "collapse_prompt":"Read less"}" data-action="a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-func-deps="aui-da-a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-id="bvij8d-53zm31-akla2n-md4cvr" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-csa-interaction-events="click" role="button" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185;"><i class="a-icon a-icon-extender-collapse" style="background-image: none; background-position: -94px -293px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 400px 900px; border-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 2px 2px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 7px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 0.385em; margin-top: -1px; opacity: 1; padding: 3px; position: relative; transform: rotate(-135deg); vertical-align: baseline; width: 7px;"></i></a></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-71312062001747745102023-07-07T00:30:00.001-07:002023-07-07T00:30:00.139-07:00ROCCO'S JULY COZY REVIEWS<p> Ma-row! July's cozies are short but sweet!</p><p><br /></p><p>SCAREDY CAT</p><p>SOFIE RYAN</p><p>SECOND CHANCE CAT MYSTERY</p><p>BERKLEY, MMPB</p><p>JULY 4, 2023 FIVE STARS</p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">Secondhand store owner Sarah Grayson and her affectionate rescue cat, Elvis, will scare up a few leads to find a killer in the newest installment of this captivating </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling series.</span></p><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />After a long, cold, and snowy winter, it seems as though spring may be arriving early in Maine. Sarah Grayson is busy at her store, Second Chance, and she’s looking forward to an afternoon break from the hustle and bustle, tagging along to the North Harbor Spring House Tour with her friend Detective Michelle Andrews.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But it turns out one of the houses has a haunted history, and when a ghost hunter is found dead on the premises, Sarah knows the best way to uncover the killer/to solve the mystery is by investigating the not-so-dearly departed. With help from Elvis and Charlotte’s Angels, the crew of senior citizen private detectives who work out of the store, she’ll close the case on this creepy crime.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWM2RG7M2nn_Ukg6pWXZhqOE4P0k7EbCQEP8A1xsdxojqOGwPJzGq0iMVj21QGYqxyBO9OPDYoT8CMcWdXZHj9d9r2Wr-lH7nEN29NizUlFvRbngucPL1U-oPxUEUs-HbwYVHaYNW4S3b2vVcE7WA3Bw2Bf_JWK0X7kH9NGyL55oybh7Tldjb_Ru_/s499/SOFIE%20SCAREDY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWM2RG7M2nn_Ukg6pWXZhqOE4P0k7EbCQEP8A1xsdxojqOGwPJzGq0iMVj21QGYqxyBO9OPDYoT8CMcWdXZHj9d9r2Wr-lH7nEN29NizUlFvRbngucPL1U-oPxUEUs-HbwYVHaYNW4S3b2vVcE7WA3Bw2Bf_JWK0X7kH9NGyL55oybh7Tldjb_Ru_/s320/SOFIE%20SCAREDY.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br /></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">We love Sarah and Elvis, and Charlotte's Angels are always a riot! I look forward to a new entry every year in this series that never fails to entertain! Five Paws.</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">LORNA BARRETT</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">BOOKTOWN MYSTERY</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">BERKLEY; HC; JULY 27, 2023</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">FIVE PAWS</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb6I-YlIm8acSCvEkw_KouW0FAEJto3LhKZzBZpOYP0S10EyDYY64JLXKf8BLF_HeDQNXrRnBhVm16pe97eB8B36FRcgU-pFcoiYT61Reaf3-NVNxtrfX0uocdKWDG96iXjYEWS_NwAsfnlnFlAFPO47kb2Jw3lsxq0TSr19-I42LBWwf-WqMbrOY/s499/A%20Questionable%20Character.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb6I-YlIm8acSCvEkw_KouW0FAEJto3LhKZzBZpOYP0S10EyDYY64JLXKf8BLF_HeDQNXrRnBhVm16pe97eB8B36FRcgU-pFcoiYT61Reaf3-NVNxtrfX0uocdKWDG96iXjYEWS_NwAsfnlnFlAFPO47kb2Jw3lsxq0TSr19-I42LBWwf-WqMbrOY/s320/A%20Questionable%20Character.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">The murder of a local contractor may be the final nail in the coffin for Tricia Miles in the latest entry to Lorna Barrett's</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;"> New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling Booktown series.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It's a busy summer in Booktown. Contractor Jim Stark is in great demand: he’s overseeing a number of projects, including Angelica Miles's newly constructed building on Main Street, finishing up the new brew pub, and gutting a stone mansion off Main Street that Angelica bought to be the world headquarters for Nigela Ricita Asssociates. It’ll house office space where her marketing staff and the rest of the NR Associates clerical personnel will work.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Tricia Miles and Angelica arrive at the mansion before their workday to see how the construction is going. They find the place unlocked and Stark’s right-hand man, Sanjay Arya, dead—bludgeoned to death. The loss of the contractor’s top man threatens all the projects in the works, which would effectively ruin the expensive marketing plan that the Chamber of Commerce has been working. Is Jim a suspect? (He’d be stupid to kill the person he depends on to keep the projects going.) But Stark also thinks his wife, who was very chummy with Sanjay, might have been cheating on him with the second-in-command, making him a likely suspect.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Once again Tricia finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, but can she find the killer before he or she has the chance to bring the hammer down?</span></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tricia is in trouble again! It's getting to be a habit, but an enjoyable one for hte reader as we follow Tricia tracking down anohter killer. This delightfully quirky series never disappoints! It is always entertaining and we can see why it's lasted so long! Exceptional character development - although it would be nice if Tricia hooked up with a decent suitor, for once!!!!! Another five paw mystery this month! </span></span></div>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-1371908933819091722023-06-23T00:30:00.000-07:002023-06-23T08:46:53.566-07:00PURRDAY INTERVIEWS PRINCESS FUZZYPANTS!<p>In anticipation of the newest Pet Shop Mystery debuting Tuesday, DEATH STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT ROCCO turns the interview reins over to Purrday so he can ask the tough questions of Pet Shop Mystery's newest character: Princess Fuzzypants.</p><p><br /></p><p>As many of you know, the character is based on the real life fantabulous cat, Princess Fuzzypants, who has her own blog and Facebook page! Here is Purrday' interview with the real life Princess:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelIXaBkFUBWTS2y8s3yIAV2gJ9-A_gFI6qE1d9b-EZcMf5F2rj-J_feq54Dd4l8g-a6TdV006wvtzIrzA3ScJfrHo9jxSO70VzfpYZ9F-mDhi2jUYD3iR5Tn9yO5v-u51M4JjTZVLarx8qNBVXCq9aKewP4u3ImVjzDY7yNaJ1JqmIgOs-b0p7-Lp/s1135/Princess%20Fuzzypants%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelIXaBkFUBWTS2y8s3yIAV2gJ9-A_gFI6qE1d9b-EZcMf5F2rj-J_feq54Dd4l8g-a6TdV006wvtzIrzA3ScJfrHo9jxSO70VzfpYZ9F-mDhi2jUYD3iR5Tn9yO5v-u51M4JjTZVLarx8qNBVXCq9aKewP4u3ImVjzDY7yNaJ1JqmIgOs-b0p7-Lp/s320/Princess%20Fuzzypants%203.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei34s8Lz4q5oNedzmyntC9i12bI5B3yuQ1ui6_GP2FOWoFjyI82MFCQP9FX7m99LZoa7UuXFGXp0qCYThHPJpucSSL26nUH_xSsV1k39q350nCX8Ysg26pfRp_XbYPKcuu6_zjWr2cuNFQt-LBEUf27V7u5OhtqM01RHcvhfvQgozCn4zaV0Mh2wm/s1018/Princess%20Fuzzypants%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei34s8Lz4q5oNedzmyntC9i12bI5B3yuQ1ui6_GP2FOWoFjyI82MFCQP9FX7m99LZoa7UuXFGXp0qCYThHPJpucSSL26nUH_xSsV1k39q350nCX8Ysg26pfRp_XbYPKcuu6_zjWr2cuNFQt-LBEUf27V7u5OhtqM01RHcvhfvQgozCn4zaV0Mh2wm/s320/Princess%20Fuzzypants%204.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div style="min-height: 100%; position: relative;"><div class="nH" style="width: 1536px;"><div class="nH" style="position: relative;"><div class="nH aqk aql bkL" style="--gm3-sys-color-background-rgb: 255,255,255; --gm3-sys-color-background: #fff; --gm3-sys-color-error-container-rgb: 249,222,220; --gm3-sys-color-error-container: #f9dedc; --gm3-sys-color-error-rgb: 179,38,30; --gm3-sys-color-error: #b3261e; --gm3-sys-color-inverse-on-surface-rgb: 242,242,242; --gm3-sys-color-inverse-on-surface: #f2f2f2; --gm3-sys-color-inverse-primary-rgb: 168,199,250; --gm3-sys-color-inverse-primary: #a8c7fa; 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flex-grow: 1; overflow: hidden;"><div class="nH" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 16px; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow-y: hidden;"><div class="nH"><div class="nH ar4 z"><div class="aeI"><div class="AO" style="position: relative;"><div class="Tm aeJ" id=":3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; height: 582px; overflow-y: scroll; padding-right: 0px;"><div class="aeF" id=":1" style="min-height: 392.4px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div class="nH"><div class="nH" jsaction="JIbuQc:.CLIENT;iE7Vzc:.CLIENT;v9KJX:.CLIENT" role="main"><div class="nH g"><table cellpadding="0" class="Bs nH iY bAt" role="presentation" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; display: block; min-height: 64ex; padding: 0px; position: static; width: 1208px;"><tbody><tr class="aTN"><td class="Bu" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="nH a98 iY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; min-height: 64ex; padding-right: 16px; position: static;"><div class="nH aHU" style="position: relative;"><div class="nH hx" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; min-width: 502px; padding: 0px;"><div class="nH bh" jslog="20686; u014N:xr6bB; 1:WyIjdGhyZWFkLWE6cjY1NTUwNzk1NDU2NDA4NzM2NTgiLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLFtdXQ.." role="list"><div aria-expanded="true" class="h7 bg" role="listitem" style="clear: both; max-width: 100000px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px;" tabindex="-1"><div class="Bk" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-radius: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; width: 1192px;"><div class="G3 G2 afm" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgba(100, 121, 143, 0.12); border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-radius: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgba(100, 121, 143, 0.12); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div id=":39b"><div class="adn ads" data-legacy-message-id="188b4d33b12448de" data-message-id="#msg-f:1768592163083667678" style="border-left: none; display: flex; padding: 0px;"><div class="gs" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; width: 1120px;"><div><div class="ii gt adO" id=":3au" jslog="20277; u014N:xr6bB; 1:WyIjdGhyZWFkLWE6cjY1NTUwNzk1NDU2NDA4NzM2NTgiLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLFtdXQ..; 4:WyIjbXNnLWY6MTc2ODU5MjE2MzA4MzY2NzY3OCIsbnVsbCxbXV0." style="direction: ltr; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="a3s aiL" id=":39d" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;"><div dir="auto"><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><div dir="ltr">Purrday: Merow, Princess, we are honored to have you here!</div></span></div></blockquote><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> Princess: It is my pleasure, Purrday.</span> </p><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><div dir="ltr"> Purrday: Princess, how did you feel when you learned that you were to be a character in the human T.C. Lotempio's next Pet Shop mystery?</div></span></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> Princess: </span>Purrday, I was absolutely thrilled when I learned I would be a character and then when I found out I would be your girlfriend, I was over the moon.<div><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><br /><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Purrday:. Would you say becoming a fictional character has changed your life in any way?</div></div></blockquote><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> Princess: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222;">*Blushes*. Some of my furriends tell meow that I have always been a star but now I really do feel special. My fans are so excited too. I feel like I am sharing the experience with them. It has, however, not brought any more treaties or stinky goodness.</span></p></span></div><div><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><br /><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Purrday: Aside from the Pet Shop mysteries, do you have a favorite series that features a pet?</div></div></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><span> </span><span> Princess: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222;">OMG! This is hard because I have so many. Of course I love Nick and Nora but my first one is still one of my favourites and that is Midnight Louie or the PI with shivs. He always made meow laugh. Currently I never miss Diesel in the Cat in the Stacks series.</span></p></span></div><div><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><br /><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Purrday: Who would you choose to be stranded on a desert island with: Myself or Nick Charles the cat from the Nick and Nora mysteries</div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div></span><span> </span><span> Princess: </span>Another toughie. Could I have both of mew?</div><div><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><br /><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Purrday: Do you have any literary aspirations of your own?</div></div></blockquote><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> Princess: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222;">I actually do. I would love to find a publisher or somepawdy who could help meow share my stories and thoughts with the greater public. I think mew will agree I have some impawtant things to say.</span></p></span></div><div><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>PUrrday: If DEATH STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT should ever be made into a movie, would you consider playing yourself? and who do you see in the roles of Shell and Gary?</div><div><br /></div></div></div></blockquote><div><span> </span><span> Princess: I</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222;"> would love to have this made into a movie and naturally mew and I would play ourselves. Casting the humans…hmm *ponders*. I know Momma would choose Henry Cavell if she could play Shell but she is way too old. But seriously I think somepawdy like Timothy Oliphant or Ryan Reynolds for Gary and Kelly Reilly or Rachel MacAdams for Shell since Rachel is from my home town. They have to be funny and charming and still kick butt.</span></div></span><div><br /></div><div>Who do mew think it should be? *Giggles*</div><div><br /></div><div>Purrday: No actress could compare to you, Princess. It has been a pleasure to interview you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Princess: <span style="background-color: transparent;">I want to thank mew Rocco and TC for letting meow be part of this. It has been a blast !</span></div><div><div class="yj6qo ajU" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 2px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 10px 0px; width: 22px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-7859808786402914372023-06-09T00:30:00.022-07:002023-06-09T00:30:00.143-07:00ROCCO's June Cozy reviews!<p> Ma-Row! Here are our June cozy reviews. First up..HISS ME DEADLY</p><p><br /></p><p>HISS ME DEADLY</p><p>A CAT IN THE STACKS MYSTERY</p><p>MIRANDA JAMES</p><p>BERKLEY; HARDCOVER; 6/27/23</p><p>FIVE PAWS</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Perfect for fans of Ali Brandon, Sofie Kelly, and Laura Childs, James’s Cat in the Stacks mysteries deliver a delightful blend of cozy themes that readers love, with a charming, Southern setting and a Librarian sleuth who solves crimes with his trusted fuzzy companion.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w9UXHx3e27YRPHe2rs_MnMgY7f_XXvBkCMh7kIR35lc-TqqbuZr2y2D2gRcYyX1Io_OQFi9WCCCMR-byYm0A_K0RqvJCy79dNiW-gTbSRiui8UKgxr_zX9iwQBmH2Jk-KqGgL_poSLhk9OeJAiRkQU66BezDbnNtF4YMtD2qJ05zsCOsqCTiYOql/s332/HISS%20ME%20DEADLY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w9UXHx3e27YRPHe2rs_MnMgY7f_XXvBkCMh7kIR35lc-TqqbuZr2y2D2gRcYyX1Io_OQFi9WCCCMR-byYm0A_K0RqvJCy79dNiW-gTbSRiui8UKgxr_zX9iwQBmH2Jk-KqGgL_poSLhk9OeJAiRkQU66BezDbnNtF4YMtD2qJ05zsCOsqCTiYOql/s320/HISS%20ME%20DEADLY.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />In this latest installment, Charlie and Diesel must catch a killer before he strikes another deadly note.<u></u><u></u><p></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">Charlie Harris remembers Wilfred “Wil” Threadgill as one of the outsiders during high school in Athena. Although Wil was a couple of years ahead of him and his friend Melba Gilley, Melba had a big crush on Wil, who dropped out after his junior year. An aspiring musician, Wil hit the road for California and never looked back. Wil eventually became a star, fronting a band and writing award-winning songs. </span><span style="color: black;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br /><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">Coming back to Athena to work for two weeks with students in the college music department, Wil is now the big man on campus. Not everyone is happy to have him back, however. His entourage have been the target of several acts of petty harassment. At first they are easy for Wil to shrug off, but the incidents escalate and become more troubling. When one of the band members is killed Charlie worries that Melba, now deeply involved with the man at the center of the attacks, could be in deadly danger. It is up to Charlie and Diesel to find out who hates Wil Threadgill enough to silence his song . . . forever!</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">Charlie and Diesel are still going strong n their 15th adventure! they work overtime to make sure their buddy Melba isn't in danger! Part of the charm of this series is the supporting characters; and, of course, our favorite 'cat in the stacks'. Long live Diesel! an excellent addition to a long running series that shows no signs of running out of steam. Five paws.</span></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">A FATAL ILLUSION</span></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">a Lady Darby Mystery</p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Anna Lee Huber</p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Berkley; Trade PB</p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">June 20, 2023</p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">four Stars</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBZ3j5KV9fEuRVeuYzySdARiPbzuyCe71uPqwYpAVMWMjzyvfCIlxE5T2R0dsLSSorRCCzY8ymD7GwbkVxIhH4gqTYS6AEBhF9cydYHgbuUgEZcB2PFwfCk7PHWZVyPbUajoaRNbCBLraM9FpTrii97rQrOsyQfcrTR0qJEp4Gj9oqO4IP98qygzG/s499/A%20fatal%20illusion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBZ3j5KV9fEuRVeuYzySdARiPbzuyCe71uPqwYpAVMWMjzyvfCIlxE5T2R0dsLSSorRCCzY8ymD7GwbkVxIhH4gqTYS6AEBhF9cydYHgbuUgEZcB2PFwfCk7PHWZVyPbUajoaRNbCBLraM9FpTrii97rQrOsyQfcrTR0qJEp4Gj9oqO4IP98qygzG/s320/A%20fatal%20illusion.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br /><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">New parents Lady Kiera Darby and Sebastian Gage look forward to introducing Sebastian’s father to his granddaughter, but instead find themselves investigating an attempt on his life...</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Yorkshire, England. August 1832. Relations between Sebastian Gage and his father have never been easy, especially since the discovery that Lord Gage has been concealing the existence of an illegitimate son. But when Lord Gage is nearly fatally attacked on a journey to Scotland, Sebastian and Kiera race to his side. Given the tumult over the recent passage of the Reform Bill and the Anatomy Act, in which Lord Gage played a part, Sebastian wonders if the attack could be politically motivated.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But something suspicious is afoot in the sleepy village where Lord Gage is being cared for. The townspeople treat Sebastian and Kiera with hostility when it becomes clear they intend to investigate, and rumors of mysterious disappearances and highway robberies plague the area. Lord Gage’s survival is far from assured, and Sebastian and Kiera must scramble to make the pieces fit before a second attempt at murder is more successful than the first.</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">Another solid entry in a long running series. Four paws.</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><br /></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">HOT POT MURDER</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">LA Market Night</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">Jennifer Chow</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">Berkley/MMPB</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">June 6, 2023</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">Four stars</div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2xgB0lWvDfxJHcitrwp4NmJ3cM5Z3ZSwtZYq3NVNngnscOlP_61sTbZ_yXzOPBIzcuno_BbWDUID_9liTcMrqBvkATP4tQveg8MTFfyJe3oIOZr6LgwWP-b0eHVte3jfpMJYaBj1cjk4EZdqUHxADS27j4g8X1Gf5lDr5tGslo1QrjFtysQVsSLo/s499/Hot%20Pot%20Murder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2xgB0lWvDfxJHcitrwp4NmJ3cM5Z3ZSwtZYq3NVNngnscOlP_61sTbZ_yXzOPBIzcuno_BbWDUID_9liTcMrqBvkATP4tQveg8MTFfyJe3oIOZr6LgwWP-b0eHVte3jfpMJYaBj1cjk4EZdqUHxADS27j4g8X1Gf5lDr5tGslo1QrjFtysQVsSLo/s320/Hot%20Pot%20Murder.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br /><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><br /></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Trouble is brewing for cousins Yale and Celine Yee after a hot pot dinner gets overheated and ends in murder in this second novel of the L.A. Night Market series by Jennifer J. Chow.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Yale and Celine Yee’s food stall business is going so well that they’ve been invited to join an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. The members gather together for a relaxing hot pot feast…until Jeffery Vue, president of the group, receives a literal shock to his system and dies. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Everyone at the meal is a suspect, but the authorities are homing in on family friend Ai Ho, owner of the restaurant where Jeffery was killed—and Yale’s dad is a close second on their list. Yale and Celine step up to the plate and investigate the dinner attendees: the association’s ambitious VP, a familiar frenemy, a ramen king, a snacks shopkeeper, and a second-generation restaurateur. It’s up to the detecting duo to figure out what really happened before their friends and family have to close their businesses for good.</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Everyone loves reading about food and when murder is combined so much the better! Reminiscent of the Gourmet Detective msyteries, Chow delivers a solid plot. Definitely worth a read! Four paws.</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><br /></div><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_7818242941918120801xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><u></u> </span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-33694605256713823862023-05-21T11:43:00.002-07:002023-05-21T11:43:23.696-07:00spotlight - MURDER ON MUSTANG BEACH<p>Spotlight on new release:</p><p><br /></p><p>MURDER ON MUSTANG BEACH</p><p>ALICIA BESSETTE</p><p>RELEASE DATE: MAY 16, 2023</p><p>HARDCOVER</p><p>FOUR STARS</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0S4RElXFgsuATf3YZuH-u8xDLY6IbyonUFGsHxzQjq9HJuDtGgm4orrEF7K0Jbxdybsb0NVP4pMfd-9ZHIGgevqpz5w31ltw1EaAM4xQndzU3UA1uTl1KEyvpS--m5g9Dl0zxggRzdI78Ul0W2kj4eihYyjkt9MVpt949JLDwDJnkbKuB7q9uq9Y/s499/MUSTANG%20MURDER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0S4RElXFgsuATf3YZuH-u8xDLY6IbyonUFGsHxzQjq9HJuDtGgm4orrEF7K0Jbxdybsb0NVP4pMfd-9ZHIGgevqpz5w31ltw1EaAM4xQndzU3UA1uTl1KEyvpS--m5g9Dl0zxggRzdI78Ul0W2kj4eihYyjkt9MVpt949JLDwDJnkbKuB7q9uq9Y/s320/MUSTANG%20MURDER.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Cattail Island in the Outer Banks is a popular destination for honeymooners and nature lovers alike. So it is a huge blow when the murder of a newlywed grinds the pre-summer season to a screeching halt. Bookseller Callie Padget launches her own investigation, after mysterious customer Geri-Lynn Humfeld, caretaker of the island’s protected wild horses, brings in an irresistible piece of information.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Determined to restore order and safety to her beloved hometown, Callie searches for answers—even as those answers cast suspicion on her soon-to-be boyfriend, Toby Dodge, whose martial arts studio was the scene of the crime. As she digs deeper, Toby becomes the police’s prime suspect. The truth raises troubling questions and sends her scouring the bookshop’s shelves for guidance.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Meanwhile, a well-loved member of the mustang herd—a pregnant mare whose anticipated foal is a symbol of summery hope for locals and visitors alike—may be facing dire circumstances. With help from Geri-Lynn, Callie unearths startling secrets surrounding not only the compromised mare, but the murdered newlywed, too. And when another body shows up, this time on isolated Mustang Beach, she must race against time to stop a killer from claiming any more innocent lives.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">A fast paced mystery that readers will enjoy. I am always partial to those that are set in a bookshop! Callie is a combination of the best of Jessica Fletcher and Nancy Drew! Four Stars</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Win a copy of Murder on Mustang Beach!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Berkley has donated a hard copy for giveaway! To enter, leave your name and e-mail address in our comments section. Winner will be chosen via random.org. US entries only please. Contest ends midnight, May 26.</span></span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-85758534370518829492023-05-12T00:30:00.001-07:002023-05-12T00:30:00.137-07:00ROCCO spotlights and reviews new Berkley cozy titles for may!<p><br /></p><p>THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS</p><p>A HAUNTED BOOKSHOP MYSTERY</p><p>CLEO COYLE</p><p>RELEASE DATE: MAY 2, 2023</p><p>BERKLEY MASS MARKET PAPERBACK</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFD9dAAjPmtDQxGfxkSwCzTNgG_1nezlGcdkeM2L-ZoGgIzPLeID9DSdqLEZ6EL7Q-VHkqvTaAruWT46V1o3KZtD6iMc2W1pCM2245sPss6XL9aLk9M5u_fOuZGIjAI64IPr5tCqs-0gL0mlIAmD0nlU4wXAju2pJPlrEs7vObKjyOpVDcP4N0fFKD" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFD9dAAjPmtDQxGfxkSwCzTNgG_1nezlGcdkeM2L-ZoGgIzPLeID9DSdqLEZ6EL7Q-VHkqvTaAruWT46V1o3KZtD6iMc2W1pCM2245sPss6XL9aLk9M5u_fOuZGIjAI64IPr5tCqs-0gL0mlIAmD0nlU4wXAju2pJPlrEs7vObKjyOpVDcP4N0fFKD" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A stray dog leads bookseller Penelope McClure and her gumshoe ghost on a chase for a clever killer in this brand-new entry in the "utterly charming" (Mystery Scene) Haunted Bookshop Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pet Mystery Week brings brisk business to Penelope's Rhode Island bookshop, but a real mystery comes barking at her door when a lost dog turns up in a panic. Pen and her son Spencer follow the furry fugitive to a wooded area where the dog's owner lies unconscious. Mrs. Cunningham is a warm-hearted widow who volunteers at the animal shelter and runs Buy the Book's pet lovers book club. Why would anyone shoot such a sweet soul?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The police believe it's an accident, a shot by a careless deer hunter, but Pen remains skeptical. To straighten out this doggone mess, she whistles for the ghost of PI Jack Shepard, an expert in hounding as well as haunting. Jack has a dog story of his own, a case from the 1940s that may help Pen sniff out clues to her present predicament. Yet even with Jack's hard-boiled help, Pen may not be able to stop the killer from striking again or letting this whole case go to the dogs . .</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">ROCCO SEZ:<span> WE love cleo Coyle's coffeehouse mysteries and now we also love the haunted bookshop! of course, it would have been nice if the title were the ghost goes to the cats but you can't have everythng merow! Another well-plotted mystery that fans and newbies to the series will enjoy. Five paws.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span>DRESSED TO DRILL</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span>A FIXER UPPER MYSTERY</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span>KATE CARLISLE</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span>MAY 2, 2023</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">BERKLEY MASS MARKET PAPERBACK</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvGl0xREJ2lcCtUA3N6jhNCfY5_xqQdbfDsYyVzdY1-jKTgKzD_cdAHdABH5yzkkafEYiSro6pF_BgtY4HwIVgvEGA60JVvzHjWtDCQ3xTTplzX2YVbtBJegd1TeiwYqsmN4bBc8VAlfV9cbgAuc4iTNqBnotGnYMibPHxU4cYuE5_cUZS3RymnHW1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="310" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvGl0xREJ2lcCtUA3N6jhNCfY5_xqQdbfDsYyVzdY1-jKTgKzD_cdAHdABH5yzkkafEYiSro6pF_BgtY4HwIVgvEGA60JVvzHjWtDCQ3xTTplzX2YVbtBJegd1TeiwYqsmN4bBc8VAlfV9cbgAuc4iTNqBnotGnYMibPHxU4cYuE5_cUZS3RymnHW1" width="149" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Contractor Shannon Hammer’s new project, renovating an old church, reveals some old sins when a body is found on the premises in the latest Fixer-Upper Mystery from the New York Times author Kate Carlisle.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />While Shannon Hammer is thrilled to attend the premiere of the movie based on her boyfriend Mac’s latest book, she can’t wait to trade her killer heels for work boots and start her next renovation project in Lighthouse Cove: a quaint Victorian church that has seen better days. And will see them again—as a museum—if Shannon, her talented crew, and her sister Chloe have anything to say about it.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But on the first day of demolition, work comes to a screeching halt when they stumble on the body of a beautiful young woman in one of the chapels. Who killed the assistant art director? Suspects crawl out of the woodwork as fast as Shannon can restore it. The church is hiding a century of secrets from the days that smugglers wreaked havoc on the California coast. But it’s a more recent secret that someone killed to protect. Shannon and Mac will use every tool in their toolbox to nail down the truth before any more lives are sacrificed.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">ROCCO SEZ: We became a fan of this series after seeing the Hallmark movie adaptation. Once again, Shannon Hammer (appropriately named) finds herself caught up in a puzzling mystery as she begins her next renovation project! We love the Shannon and Mac team! Five paws!!!!!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-30128492915533265682023-05-02T00:00:00.001-07:002023-05-02T00:00:00.150-07:00NEW SERIES FROM E.J. COPPERMAN! AND AN INTERVIEW<p>May 2 marks the debut of a new series from our friend E.J. Copperman (Haunted Guesthouse, Jersey Girl Mysteries). Say hello to Fran and Ken Stein, PI's!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQDGz_N8y76FiJZ9PVwnSmxz686i669kQx4rrGVxSSW0uBeg7_M-UfFbgdbbzZ4VrCtgmmdAlIOzoxbuqvanVzX60wy2IjBAdMe07XBtJ4mDTe-xKXl9AnpfhCaVoiQCA-to94rNraxxlv7I0pe907njSeYE4oPfO0f5uEtKTqzaVdkLcFeQI4w5C/s499/UOD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQDGz_N8y76FiJZ9PVwnSmxz686i669kQx4rrGVxSSW0uBeg7_M-UfFbgdbbzZ4VrCtgmmdAlIOzoxbuqvanVzX60wy2IjBAdMe07XBtJ4mDTe-xKXl9AnpfhCaVoiQCA-to94rNraxxlv7I0pe907njSeYE4oPfO0f5uEtKTqzaVdkLcFeQI4w5C/s320/UOD.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">Meet Fran and Ken Stein - a private investigator duo who refuse to let a little thing like being not entirely human stop them from doing their jobs.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">"Twisty and bonkers and fun" Multi award-winning author Catriona McPherson</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />After losing their parents when they were just babies, private investigators Fran and Ken Stein now specialize in helping adoptees find their birth parents. So when a client asks them for help finding her father, with her only clue a rare ukulele, the case is a little weird, sure, but it's nothing they can't handle.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But soon Fran and her brother are plunged into a world where nothing makes sense - and not just the fact that a very short (but very cute) NYPD detective keeps trying to take eternal singleton Fran out on dates.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />All Fran wants to do is find the ukulele and collect their fee, but it's hard to keep your focus when you're stumbling over corpses and receiving messages that suggest your (dead) parents are very much alive.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ukuleles aside, it's becoming clear that someone knows something they shouldn't - that Fran and Ken Stein weren't so much born, as built . . .<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">The Ukulele of Death </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">is the first in a new series of light-hearted, paranormal tinged mysteries that are filled with off-beat humor, heart and the wry wisdom that's E.J. Copperman's signature style.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>ROCCO's Review: A different kind of cozy with a good plot, told in E.J. Copperman's inimitable style of blending in humor. (Cat-ch the irony in the character names, LOL). A definite five star debut!</p><p><br /></p><p>Bonus: E. J. Copperman interview!</p><p><br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROCCO: Welcome back, EJ! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please tell us about your newest book and/or series.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> E.J.: </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks for inviting me back! It’s
always a pleasure.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">UKULELE OF DEATH is the first book
in a series about Fran and Ken Stein (I’ll give you a second), two very tall,
very strong private investigators (and siblings) who are asked by a client to
find a rare ukulele she thinks can help her find her birth father. Things go
steadily downhill from there. And the fact that Fran and Ken aren’t exactly
normal humans does play into the story…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROCCO Readers always have a
favorite character. Do you have a favorite from this book and/or series?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">EJ: Well, Fran narrates so I spend
most of my time in her head. But I think people will enjoy her friend the US
Marshal, the accessible billionaire who offers to help and of course Fran and
Ken’s “Aunt Margie,” who raised them after their parents were forced to flee
New York City.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROCCO:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you’re finished writing a book, how long
is it before you start writing the next?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> EJ: </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It depends on whether I have a
contract for something else. I’m writing the second Fran and Ken book now, to
be followed by the sixth Jersey Girl Legal Mystery. So that’ll keep me busy for
a bit.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROCCO: Where do you do your
best writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> EJ: </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wherever I happen to be. Location
doesn’t really enter into it. I do my MOST writing at my desk in my office,
because I’m there most of the time.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROCCO:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any new projects in the works?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> EJ: </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, this is the first in a series,
so that’s new, and the aforementioned Jersey Girl #6 (following AND JUSTICE FOR
MALL), and then… there are possibilities.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROCCO:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you love to do in your free time? LOL
Do you get much free time? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> EJ: Not as much as I'd like LOL. </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I watch baseball games; I’m an
ardent fan. I spend time with my amazing spouse and sometimes our children, who
have had the nerve to grow up and move into homes of their own.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROCCO: Where can readers go to learn
more about you and your books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> EJ: </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The easiest place is at </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.ejcopperman.com/"><b><span style="color: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.ejcopperman.com</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of course. There you’ll find info, news (such as it is),
reviews and anything else you might, for reasons I couldn’t imagine, want to
know about me. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter and very occasionally Instagram.
I’d be on TikTok but nobody wants that.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks so much for an amazing
interview, E.J.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ukulele of Death debuts in bookstore today!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon link:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>https://www.amazon.com/Ukulele-Death-Fran-Stein-Mystery/dp/1448309700/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11KZR8S2PMYDS&keywords=ukulele+of+death&qid=1681322334&s=books&sprefix=ukulelie+of+death%2Cstripbooks%2C202&sr=1-1</b></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><br /><p></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-15047440511955597022023-04-01T09:12:00.001-07:002023-04-01T09:12:29.501-07:00<p> Ma-Row!</p><p><br /></p><p>Introducing a new series by the "human": Tiffany Austin, Food Blogger Mysteries!</p><p><br /></p><p>It kicks off with Book #1, EAT DRINK AND DROP DEAD, this Tuesday, April 4th!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-rMtevsqgvySvYFwKP87xhvBlofEeer0WKxJ3Gr8eVj7ECNHa1EkJvqJemSaUN1-1TzqA1i8WA8MujP4oiq5m4CRO76emJsCST345DQDZC3qX23hzZB6yU-BRdWq9PEDJMCAd-omqQhHc5_czIavglzVcxwN2jqwjvQt1toM8tIBuS7YcskWWlH3/s2622/Tiffany%20Laura%20Quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2622" data-original-width="1682" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-rMtevsqgvySvYFwKP87xhvBlofEeer0WKxJ3Gr8eVj7ECNHa1EkJvqJemSaUN1-1TzqA1i8WA8MujP4oiq5m4CRO76emJsCST345DQDZC3qX23hzZB6yU-BRdWq9PEDJMCAd-omqQhHc5_czIavglzVcxwN2jqwjvQt1toM8tIBuS7YcskWWlH3/s320/Tiffany%20Laura%20Quote.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">A former chef gets mixed up in murder when she moves back to her Southern home town in the first Tiffany Austin food blogger mystery - a culinary cozy that will make your brain work and your stomach rumble!</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"I was hooked from start to finish!" Laura Childs, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Food critic and blogger Tiffany Austin has the best job in the world: she gets to eat for a living. At least, she </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">hopes </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">she has a job. Her trial period at </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important;">Southern Style </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">magazine is up - and rumors are swirling that management are making a choice between Tiffany and a rival columnist: the ambitious Jenny Lee Plumm.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Former chef Tiffany knows she has a battle on her hands . . . but she didn't realize it was to the death! When her rival's body is discovered after the two have a very public argument, Tiffany finds herself the prime suspect in a murder investigation. The lead detective might be very hot - but Tiffany's definitely not ready to go down for a crime she didn't commit.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ably assisted by Hilary, her best friend and partner in (non) crime, and bolstered by the unconditional love of her Siamese cat Lily and King Charles Cavalier puppy Cooper, Tiffany plunges into an investigation of her own. After all, she has a degree from the CIA - the Culinary Institute of America - and she's not afraid to use it. But can she find the real killer before she's served up to the cops on a silver platter?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">purchase link:https://www.amazon.com/Drink-Tiffany-Austin-Blogger-Mystery/dp/1448310024/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1680365374&sr=1-1</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Watch for our blog tour starting Wednesday, April 5th. enter at the stops to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!</span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-35232700804045136732023-03-09T23:30:00.004-08:002023-03-10T09:00:18.044-08:00ROCCO spotlights LEMON CURD KILLER!<p> <strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lemon Curd Killer</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">A Tea Shop Mystery</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">by Laura Childs</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-184295 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="184295" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="LEMON CURD KILLER" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LEMON-CURD-KILLER.jpg?fit=318%2C499&ssl=1" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LEMON-CURD-KILLER.jpg?fit=191%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LEMON-CURD-KILLER.jpg?fit=318%2C499&ssl=1" data-orig-size="318,499" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/upcoming-great-escapes-book-tours/lemon-curd-killer-a-tea-shop-mystery-by-laura-childs/lemon-curd-killer/" height="499" sizes="(max-width: 318px) 100vw, 318px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LEMON-CURD-KILLER.jpg?resize=318%2C499&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LEMON-CURD-KILLER.jpg?w=318&ssl=1 318w, https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LEMON-CURD-KILLER.jpg?resize=191%2C300&ssl=1 191w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="318" /></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="7c96510652053166f9cfcdd6ba0d44c8" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Lemon Curd Killer (A Tea Shop Mystery)" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0593200926/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=7c96510652053166f9cfcdd6ba0d44c8&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_2997920" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Lemon Curd Killer (A Tea Shop Mystery)</a></strong><br /><strong>Cozy Mystery</strong><br /><strong>25th in Series</strong><br /><strong>Berkley HC (March 7, 2023)</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>ROCCO'S RATING: FIVE PAWS!</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b><br />High tea and high fashion turn deadly in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.</span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tea shop entrepreneur Theodosia Browning has been tapped to host a fancy Limón Tea in a genuine lemon orchard as a rousing kickoff to Charleston Fashion Week. But as fairy lights twinkle and the scent of lemon wafts among the tea tables, the deadly murder of a fashion designer puts the squeeze on things.</span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the lemon curd begins to sour, the murdered woman’s daughter begs Theodosia to help find the killer. Tea events and fashion shows must go on, however, which puts Theodosia and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, right in the thick of squabbling business partners, crazed clothing designers, irate film producers, drug deals, and a disastrous Tea Trolley Tour.</span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><h2 style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #cc0000; font-family: impact, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2.8em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin: 30px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 33.6px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">About Laura Childs</em></h2><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-31648 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-attachment-id="31648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="laura childs from facebook" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/laura-childs-from-facebook.jpg?fit=500%2C700&ssl=1" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/laura-childs-from-facebook.jpg?fit=214%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/laura-childs-from-facebook.jpg?fit=500%2C700&ssl=1" data-orig-size="500,700" data-permalink="https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2016/03/05/special-guest-laura-childs-author-of-devonshire-scream-giveaway-too/laura-childs-from-facebook/" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/laura-childs-from-facebook.jpg?resize=214%2C300&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/laura-childs-from-facebook.jpg?resize=214%2C300&ssl=1 214w, https://i0.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/laura-childs-from-facebook.jpg?w=500&ssl=1 500w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Laura Childs</strong> is the New York Times bestselling author of the <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425179451" data-amzn-link-id="26515d44645e89a96fa6aef1716fd04a" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Tea Shop Mysteries" href="http://www.amazon.com/Death-Darjeeling-Tea-Shop-Mystery/dp/0425179451/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=26515d44645e89a96fa6aef1716fd04a&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_4856589" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Tea Shop Mysteries</a>, <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425252590" data-amzn-link-id="17c7fce55f60d5079ff362cce5d5d392" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Scrapbook Mysteries" href="http://www.amazon.com/Gilt-Scrapbooking-Mystery-Laura-Childs/dp/0425252590/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=17c7fce55f60d5079ff362cce5d5d392&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_935163" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Scrapbook Mysteries</a>, and <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425269086" data-amzn-link-id="4045b937dda93095d128a4853d35d564" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Cackleberry Club Mysteries" href="http://www.amazon.com/Eggs-Casket-Cackleberry-Club-Mystery/dp/0425269086/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=4045b937dda93095d128a4853d35d564&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_7489618" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Cackleberry Club Mysteries</a>. 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.</span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) </span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Laura’s Links: </strong><strong><a href="http://www.laurachilds.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Website</a> – </strong><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Facebook</a></strong></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ROCCO'S REVIEW!</span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Once again, Laura Childs takes us into the thrilling world of Theodisia Browning, tea shop owner and amateur sleuth! when a murder occurs during Charleston's Fashion Week, Theodosia is on the job along with Drayton, her trusty sidekick. Plenty of action and thrills in this one! A defiinite five paws!!!!!</p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span> GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!</span><br /></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span>Laura will give away an autographed copy of LEMON CURD KILLER TO ONE LUCKY COMMENTER! To enter, leave your name and email address in our comments section! ROCCO's brother Maxx will select one lucky winner at random! Contest ends midnight, March 24. US entries only please. :)</span></p><p style="background-color: #bcc5c1; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.8em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><br /></span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-63166905936515216172023-02-09T23:30:00.001-08:002023-02-09T23:30:00.184-08:00ROCCO's February Cozy Reviews!<p> Ma-Row! Here are our cozies for February:</p><p><br /></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">SIX SWEETS UNDER</span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">A TRUE CONFECTION MYSTERY</span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">SARAH FOX</span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">MMPB/PENGUIN/Feb 7, 2023</span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">4 1/2 STARS</span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirc16cXO93homRiRlxVmmJBg7S0pZL-KCBpGUl_OEPB74R0851vPSWPTnqj2Mn9dhEKUNleb4oDQgKesZDQldEn3quOrHOaWbJXN3QTEUVyTiWWBVzJc2PHVAm_VW80E7WPnkltm_lkaVOlKE4jXc9IRvM9jGP3c_P9EsT5vaHIs3BZ5Im3jndI_pD/s499/Six%20Sweets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirc16cXO93homRiRlxVmmJBg7S0pZL-KCBpGUl_OEPB74R0851vPSWPTnqj2Mn9dhEKUNleb4oDQgKesZDQldEn3quOrHOaWbJXN3QTEUVyTiWWBVzJc2PHVAm_VW80E7WPnkltm_lkaVOlKE4jXc9IRvM9jGP3c_P9EsT5vaHIs3BZ5Im3jndI_pD/s320/Six%20Sweets.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">n a cute new culinary cozy from </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author Sarah Fox, budding chocolatier Becca Ransom must solve a murder before she meets a sticky end.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Former actress Becca Ransom lived her dream in Hollywood for seven years before returning to her hometown of Larch Haven, known as the Venice of North America. The Vermont town has canals instead of roads, gondolas instead of cars, and charming cottages plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. It’s also where Becca is pursuing her newest passion as a chocolatier at True Confections, the chocolate shop owned by her grandparents, Lolly and Pops.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />While Becca’s testing new flavors and reconnecting with old friends, the town is gearing up for the annual Gondola Races, popular with both residents and tourists, with one exception. Local curmudgeon Archie Smith wants nothing more than to keep tourists away from Larch Haven. He’s determined to derail this year’s event and does his best to stir up trouble for the organizers, including Becca’s grandfather.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Following a heated argument with Pops, Archie is found floating face-down in the canal, and Pops finds himself in hot water as one of the top suspects. Becca’s determined to clear her grandfather’s name, but when the case heats up, she could be facing a sticky end</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Who doesn't like a mystery featuring chocolate? (and a cat) four and a half paws!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">WINED AND DIED IN NEW ORLEANS</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">VINTAGE COOKBOOK MYSTERY</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">ELLEN BYRON</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">MMPB/PENGUIN/FEB 7 2023</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">FOUR AND 1/2 STARS</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkrvkVgS8asclLIZi3QFCi_krtTZbNzJ10q9mOHHMqGT1xm1E8D2rjZALPvXKJyXqiFF8Q4JHySipJz4YezLxpd9l2bB1oCVtYTg2SjnEyBDXrSmZRbQEqkOmF2R3SZw-_NrjrJBRacTPYGl60hO15M3oZdqVu39UX9hYn5kKkO0-Ns55vK5JHAWe/s499/dIED%20IN%20NO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkrvkVgS8asclLIZi3QFCi_krtTZbNzJ10q9mOHHMqGT1xm1E8D2rjZALPvXKJyXqiFF8Q4JHySipJz4YezLxpd9l2bB1oCVtYTg2SjnEyBDXrSmZRbQEqkOmF2R3SZw-_NrjrJBRacTPYGl60hO15M3oZdqVu39UX9hYn5kKkO0-Ns55vK5JHAWe/s320/dIED%20IN%20NO.jpg" width="199" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;">The second in a fantastic new cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It’s hurricane season in New Orleans and vintage cookbook fan Ricki James-Diaz is trying to shelve her weather-related fears and focus on her business, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, housed in the magnificent Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Repairs on the property unearth crates of very old, very valuable French wine, buried by the home’s builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki, who’s been struggling to attract more customers to Miss Vee’s, is thrilled when her post about the discovery of this long-buried treasure goes viral. She’s less thrilled when the post brings distant Charbonnet family members out of the woodwork, all clamoring for a cut of the wine’s sale.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When a dead body turns up in Bon Vee’s cheery fall decorations, the NOPD zeroes in on Eugenia Charbonnet Felice as the prime suspect, figuring that as head of the Charbonnet family, she has the most to gain. Ricki is determined to uncover the real culprit, but she can’t help noticing that Eugenia is acting strangely. Ricki wonders what kind of secret her mentor has bottled up, and fears what might happen if she uncorks it.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In the second Vintage Cookbook Mystery, Ricki has to help solve a murder, untangle family secrets, and grow her business, all while living under the threat of a hurricane that could wipe out everything from her home to Bon Vee. A good follow up to number one! four and a halfpaws!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">PLAYING DEAD</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Peggy rothschild</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">HC/Penguin/2/7/23</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">four paws</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOce5EVTeuDC3W0bnJwTjKreDs_v67wEGZ0uu7mzm-5_LacegTzNkrpWiYv3r_3Czoj7XExEeHl6vbRJABwRtdNfjoKbUXzgDSyjz4R4Eyv4axHSqy3FaqgnEudjcrDQJivnuXUTvZaAufS7khI6HIHg2OY-Q74yxuC_kpU-80NOh-BHy6zm8xQa9N/s499/Dead%20Playing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOce5EVTeuDC3W0bnJwTjKreDs_v67wEGZ0uu7mzm-5_LacegTzNkrpWiYv3r_3Czoj7XExEeHl6vbRJABwRtdNfjoKbUXzgDSyjz4R4Eyv4axHSqy3FaqgnEudjcrDQJivnuXUTvZaAufS7khI6HIHg2OY-Q74yxuC_kpU-80NOh-BHy6zm8xQa9N/s320/Dead%20Playing.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Molly Madison is back to solve another doggone difficult murder in her California community in this mystery from the author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">A Deadly Bone to Pick</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A good mystery - even if it does feature dogs!!!!!! four paws.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> </span></p>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-60231898066719975072023-01-05T23:30:00.001-08:002023-01-05T23:30:00.176-08:00<p> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px;">Ma-Row! Here are the January cozies!</span></span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u><img align="left" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="179" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.2&permmsgid=msg-f:1751119380244329017&th=184d39cc6ac3f239&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ-onxZKKdT__wUQLw_uJHWkmdMeeJKuSQCHMtee794qzFMr22URpm4CyzPgRXlOqjkwJWyuOHA87pyUBjaAn5O-lmU4ttJm0h0jFHGffPnNE2dZkWwzS_BhYrU&disp=emb" width="119" /><u></u><b><u>MURDER, SHE WROTE: DEATH ON THE EMERALD ISLE by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran<u></u><u></u></u></b></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Berkley Hardcover; on sale January 3, 2023 | </p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;">A trip to Northern Ireland becomes unexpectedly grim for Jessica Fletcher in this new entry in the <i>USA Today</i> bestselling <i>Murder, She Wrote</i> series.<br /><br /><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Jessica Fletcher is quick to accept an invitation to replace a speaker who couldn’t attend a Book Festival in Belfast, Ireland. When her Cabot Cove neighbor Maeve O'Bannon hears about the trip, she asks Jessica to deliver some paintings to her family in the village of Bushmills. Happy to extend her travels and see more of the Irish countryside, Jessica agrees.<br /> <br />The festival goes off without a hitch, and it seems like Jessica is in for a relaxing vacation. But then Maeve’s cousin Michael is discovered dead under suspicious circumstances. Jessica finds herself once again in the midst of a murder investigation, and she’ll have to dig into the O'Bannon family’s secrets to unmask the killer. </span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Jessica is in as fine a form as ever and ardent fans will not be disappointed. We do want to take this opportunity, though, to express our sadness of Angela Lansbury's passing in October. she will be greatly missed and she will always be Jessica to us! five paws<br /> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u><img align="left" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="181" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.4&permmsgid=msg-f:1751119380244329017&th=184d39cc6ac3f239&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ9NzvH9RGP6hsV7AubaqDonJ3nirZsgxhpVRR0Kuvm61kICrLasal07BZxowxltZWLskj5D1a2bG9OFLleoPQ01KGGl0htM5XH13sNf9lyXi-AHOcQ4EYVmmMo&disp=emb" width="110" /><u></u><b><u>A MURDEROUS PERSUASION by Katie Oliver<u></u><u></u></u></b></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Berkley Mass Market; on sale January 3, 2023 | </p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;">Phaedra Brighton is back to sleuthing again when an innocent murder-mystery weekend turns into the real deal, in the newest Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery.<br /><br /><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Phaedra Brighton has her life all figured out—she has a profession she enjoys, a wonderful (if exasperating) cat, and a cozy home on the grounds of her aunt's inn. She needs no Captain Wentworth to sweep her off her feet (though, she would not mind a Mr. Darcy).<br /> <br />But when Aunt Wendy decides she is selling Laurel Springs Inn, Phaedra faces losing her beloved carriage house. In a last-ditch attempt to drum up more business, Phaedra convinces Wendy to host an immersive <i>Persuasion-</i>themed murder-mystery weekend. It is a foolproof plan to draw attention to the establishment in the hopes of saving it. <br /> <br />Until one of the participants winds up dead. <br /> <br />With more suspects than she knows what to do with, Phaedra finds herself on the hunt for a killer once again. But with time running out, Phaedra quickly realizes with this investigation, there will be no second chances. <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">A good mystery, perfect for snuggling up with a hot cup of cocoa (and your favorite cat!) four paws</span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u><u></u><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"> </span><u></u></u></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u><img align="left" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="181" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.6&permmsgid=msg-f:1751119380244329017&th=184d39cc6ac3f239&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ_0pdPq06uINZS6P0kGj6wPCloMo4DYVmEsLcjuvYNoq-HOXB_TeAD5SlJ004Qir0Mmj22-Fd6dImL0EQOMgvbWYCpwyYmc2OmVGe6KHpuGBTBrWtfGmTDucwU&disp=emb" width="120" /><u></u><b><u>PLAYING DEAD by Peggy Rothschild<u></u><u></u></u></b></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">Berkley Hardcover; on sale February 7, 2023 |</p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;">Molly Madison is back to solve another doggone difficult murder in her California community in this mystery from the author of <i>A Deadly Bone to Pick</i>.<br /><br /><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.<br /><br />Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.<br /> <br />When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">We are an equal opportunity reviewer and even though dogs are featured in this mystery as opposed to cats, it's still a pretty good read! four and a half paws.</span></p><p class="m_-6010285110060926383MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><br /></div>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-2659091963528101412022-12-12T23:30:00.001-08:002022-12-12T23:30:00.173-08:00ROCCO spotlights SECRETS TYPED IN BLOOD<p></p><div class="hq gt a10" id=":23j" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 15px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><p></p><div class="ii gt" id=":2d4" jslog="20277; u014N:xr6bB; 4:W251bGwsbnVsbCxbXV0." style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="a3s aiL msg-7117291913778354880" id=":208" style="font: small / 1.5 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; overflow: hidden;"><div lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" vlink="#954F72"><div class="m_-7117291913778354880WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><b><span style="color: black;">SECRETS TYPED IN BLOOD: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery #3 by Stephen Spotswood</span></b><span style="color: black;">, 9780385549264, Doubleday $27.00 | 12/13/2022<b><u></u><u></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><u></u><img align="left" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="311" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9191cc6bb4&attid=0.2&permmsgid=msg-f:1740600485090419034&th=1827daeb49afe15a&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ9_AuDzr9ahmqQSpseLg6xzQ15U_hwd7owF4dnVFjWV0eKQng4UowAsf7_fs1w1HfoiPFL4XK1jTZp-YjfY7mHG-VedxyoEyKqFq4fX65pgxoLkAGLgVJ5y1dk&disp=emb" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="205" /><u></u><span style="color: black;">New York City, 1947: For years, Holly Quick has made a good living off of murder, filling up the pages of pulp detective magazines with gruesome tales of revenge. Now someone is bringing her stories to life and leaving a trail of blood-soaked bodies behind. With the threat of another murder looming, and reluctant to go to the police, Holly turns to the best crime-solving duo in or out of the pulps, Willowjean “Will” Parker and her boss, famed detective Lillian Pentecost.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black;"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black;">The pair are handed the seemingly-impossible task of investigating three murders at once without tipping off the cops or the press that the crimes are connected. A tall order made even more difficult by the fact that Will is already signed up to spend her daylight hours undercover as a guileless secretary in the hopes of digging up a lead on an old adversary, Dr. Olivia Waterhouse.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black;"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black;">But even if Will is stuck in pencil skirts and sensible shoes, she’s not about to let her boss have all the fun. Soon she’s diving into an underground world of people obsessed with murder and the men and women who commit them. Can the killer be found in the Black Museum Club, run by a philanthropist whose collection of grim murder memorabilia may not be enough to satisfy his lust for the homicidal? Or is it Holly Quick’s pair of editors, who read about murder all day, but clearly aren’t telling the full story?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black;">With victims seemingly chosen at random and a murderer who thrives on spectacle, the case has the great Lillian Pentecost questioning her methods. But whatever she does, she’d better do it fast. Holly Quick has a secret, too and it’s about to bring death right to Pentecost and Parker’s doorstep.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: black;">PRAISE FOR MURDER UNDER HER SKIN</span></i><span style="color: black;">:<u></u><u></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings;">«</span><span style="color: black;"><span> </span></span><b><span style="color: black;">New York Times Book Review 2021 Editor’s Choice</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings;">«</span><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings;">«</span><span style="color: black;"><span> </span></span><b><span style="color: black;">Lambda Literary Award Finalist for LGBTQ Mystery</span></b><span style="color: black;"><span> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings;">«</span><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span> </span>December Indie Next Pick<span> </span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings;">«</span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">“A delight. . . It’s a pleasure to watch [Pentecost and Parker] sifting through red herrings and peeling secrets back like layers of an onion, all while revealing even more of themselves without guilt or shame. Just like his mystery-writing ancestor [Rex Stout], Spotswood understands that the detective story should be sound, but spending time with unforgettable characters is paramount.”—<b><i>The</i></b><i> <b>New York Times Book Review</b></i><b><br /><br /></b>"Spotswood’s ability to subvert genre tropes with intriguing and distinctive characters… make this whodunit a delightfully unusual read. Readers will look forward to Pentecost and Parker’s further adventures."<b>—<i>Publishers Weekly</i><br /><br /></b>"Will’s slangy first-person narrative is captivating, and fans of circus life, such as it was, will enjoy this tale, as will followers of the 1940s hard-boiled detective genre, considerably enlivened here by having two no-nonsense women do the sleuthing."<b>—<i>Booklist</i><br /><br /></b>"Rich circus atmosphere and a satisfying puzzle."—<b><i>Kirkus Reviews<br /><br /></i></b>"Parker narrates the novel in a voice shot through with not only guts but wry humor.... The relationship between Pentecost and Parker grows ever more fun with time. So where will they go next? For me, it doesn’t matter as long as I get to go along."<b><i>—BookReporter<br /></i><br /></b>"Just as vibrant and compelling as [<i>Fortune Favors the Dead</i>]. . . The best things about this novel/series are Spotswood’s clever prose and dialogue, which so perfectly calls to mind the time period and the very colorful characters he’s crafted. . . Spotswood is quickly climbing the ranks of my favorite current authors, securing himself a spot on my instant-order list, and his Pentecost and Parker mysteries are a solid recommendation to any fans of historical fiction, lady investigators, or mysteries centered around queer characters."—<b><i>Criminal Element</i></b><br /><br />"Set amid the glitz and glimmer of showbiz, [<i>Murder Under Her Skin</i>] expose[s] the corruption and abuse that exists after the shine of spotlights go out. But even more than that, [it examines a critical period] during which women's roles were shifting as they demanded more freedoms. . . As they work the case, Will and Lillian find the world in flux around them, which Spotswood ably explores without distracting from the central mystery. . . None of the characters in this mystery quite know how to cope with these seismic cultural changes, setting<i> Murder Under Her Skin</i> apart from more simplistic stories set in the same time period."<b>—<i>BookPage<br /><br /></i></b>"Just like the first book in the series, <i>Murder Under Her Skin</i> is a fun and engaging read with a whodunit that keeps you guessing and entertained."—<b><i>Historical Novel Society</i></b><u></u><u></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><u></u> <u></u></p><div class="yj6qo"></div><div class="adL"></div></div><div class="adL"></div></div><div class="adL"></div></div></div>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-74751985514216649162022-12-06T11:33:00.001-08:002022-12-06T11:33:00.189-08:00ROCCO's December Cozies!<p> Ma-Row! Here are the December cozy Reviews!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>KNITS, KNOTS AND KNOVES</p><p>A craft fair knitter mstery</p><p>Emmie Caldwell</p><p>MMPB/12/6/22</p><p>4 stars</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_Fp3DFY0fmWL0WarBhgLlY_2aaI_b6FZ9_iMU_J997kevy_hefUiFQG_L_o3w_L_6MjoOo1O-X11n_MhOclVIR5DmSOf-61e6YKqS0okTt9meemAl4LFXdHL-q9JJVBQlWcLzVndgPLwkkYVidPLZFbYXhcapSXkiihk1Bcn1fhqfje5xxiy-570/s499/knits%20knots%20and%20knives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_Fp3DFY0fmWL0WarBhgLlY_2aaI_b6FZ9_iMU_J997kevy_hefUiFQG_L_o3w_L_6MjoOo1O-X11n_MhOclVIR5DmSOf-61e6YKqS0okTt9meemAl4LFXdHL-q9JJVBQlWcLzVndgPLwkkYVidPLZFbYXhcapSXkiihk1Bcn1fhqfje5xxiy-570/s320/knits%20knots%20and%20knives.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br /><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">It will take the Ninth Street Knitters all the sleuthing skills they have to untangle the threads of a dyed-in-the-wool killer.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For once things seem to be running smoothly for knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger. Her daughter is living on her own and happy with her new job on the alpaca farm. Plus, Lia and her Ninth Street Knitters have been knitting for the Civil War reenactment being held on the grounds next to the Crandalsburg Craft Fair. It’s all fun and battle games until one of the “injured soldiers” turns out to be the very real victim of a murder, and Lia’s friend and neighbor falls under deep suspicion.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Suddenly, the good folks of Crandalsburg are spinning all kinds of yarns and pointing fingers at one another. Lucky for Lia, she has the combined wits of the Ninth Street Knitters to help her ply the truth from this crafty killer.</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">An entertaining mystery! The clues are carefully woven in, drawing the reader in. Recommended for chilly nights when you want to snuggle up with a good book! 4 Paws!</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">CITY OF FORTUNE</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">VICTORIA THOMPSON</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">BERKLEY/HARDCOVER/12-6-22</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">FOUR STARS</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ60wQc4f_pBv_MWzP2VrWxjMFw4_k06wip9x6JkelRqNPNzp_9pkDTejiY_BFd8z_nEnFXMYv1bVlqfbaRz3_IaTH4d-2cu2NiTe4UwPtn3tVSk_xZBu3X-jEF5FkcEFhmV78NXjhGPlAtLfqiYdmryPN6w8BB94Py2cdQB_Us0uduaBkPG-Nav0n/s500/city%20of%20fortune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ60wQc4f_pBv_MWzP2VrWxjMFw4_k06wip9x6JkelRqNPNzp_9pkDTejiY_BFd8z_nEnFXMYv1bVlqfbaRz3_IaTH4d-2cu2NiTe4UwPtn3tVSk_xZBu3X-jEF5FkcEFhmV78NXjhGPlAtLfqiYdmryPN6w8BB94Py2cdQB_Us0uduaBkPG-Nav0n/s320/city%20of%20fortune.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">When a day at the races reveals sabotage and subterfuge, Elizabeth Miles must use every ounce of her craftiness to even the score in this all-new Counterfeit Lady novel from </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author Victoria Thompson.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes her to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has made a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, and she enjoys the excitement of the track.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his rider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene’s father would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a terrible tumble injuring both himself and Irene’s beloved Trench, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck—the horse and rider are victims of sabotage. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his closet and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth knows that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating the quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists those closest to her to come up with a scheme that will either ensure young Irene and Cal a first-place finish or have disastrous consequence. . . .</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;">As with all of victoria thompson's series, a finely crafted mystery that is sure to dleight both new readers and old fans. Four stars. </div><div class="a-expander-header a-expander-partial-collapse-header" style="bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.4s ease-out 0s; width: 834px;"><a aria-expanded="true" class="a-declarative" data-a-expander-toggle="{"allowLinkDefault":true, "expand_prompt":"Read more", "collapse_prompt":"Read less"}" data-action="a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-func-deps="aui-da-a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-id="dg7e9e-bkg8j6-ymkm5z-jf24f2" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-csa-interaction-events="click" role="button" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185;"><i class="a-icon a-icon-extender-collapse" style="background-image: url("https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/sash/McBZv0ZvnbehkIx.png"); background-position: -94px -293px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 400px 900px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 9px; margin-right: 0.385em; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 7px;"></i></a></div></span></div><div class="a-expander-header a-expander-partial-collapse-header" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.4s ease-out 0s; width: 834px;"><a aria-expanded="true" class="a-declarative" data-a-expander-toggle="{"allowLinkDefault":true, "expand_prompt":"Read more", "collapse_prompt":"Read less"}" data-action="a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-func-deps="aui-da-a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-id="djjkas-gws4u2-sbm3mb-73acg6" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-csa-interaction-events="click" role="button" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185;"><i class="a-icon a-icon-extender-collapse" style="background-image: url("https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/sash/McBZv0ZvnbehkIx.png"); background-position: -94px -293px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 400px 900px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 9px; margin-right: 0.385em; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 7px;"></i></a></div>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630676867487056616.post-56174094579178598762022-11-07T23:30:00.006-08:002022-11-07T23:30:00.199-08:00ROCCO reviews Healther Graham and Jon Land's BLOOD MOON!<p> BLOOD MOON</p><p>Heather Graham and Jon Land</p><p>TOR/Hardback/November 8, 2022</p><p>Five Stars</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi2f3wkoO_NKGlsUBwNCrcC7keugWZ04ct9ERIy8-ouoWymfmVgzSeRdQsy26c1AkH5fzapY3laDCZHzeG3kuE3B0Udhoom3WMtK1JmJfGA7y4ylK78vJVmT3aRBrn7DK4MdlHTBgFumbPpEht9HMM2ldhr1l_jHasazoprytsRX0DjCnKi1l4xXG/s293/Blood%20Moon.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="196" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi2f3wkoO_NKGlsUBwNCrcC7keugWZ04ct9ERIy8-ouoWymfmVgzSeRdQsy26c1AkH5fzapY3laDCZHzeG3kuE3B0Udhoom3WMtK1JmJfGA7y4ylK78vJVmT3aRBrn7DK4MdlHTBgFumbPpEht9HMM2ldhr1l_jHasazoprytsRX0DjCnKi1l4xXG/s1600/Blood%20Moon.webp" width="196" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>BLOOD MOON continues the saga of <span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">high school seniors Alex Chin and Samantha Dixon.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">They may have managed to win a major battle against the powerful enemy determined to destroy civilization as we know it. But the war continues, with Alex and Sam embarking on a desperate journey to save mankind, even as their friendship blossoms into something much more.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">The roadmap for their journey lies in a mysterious book, the language of which has never been deciphered, until Alex finds himself able to translate the words that may hold the keys to saving the future. Toward that end, Alex’s and Sam’s quest spirits them away to a myriad of locations around the world, each of which holds another piece of the puzzle that can defeat the alien invaders.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">But an ageless foe, long the guardian of the secrets his race has left behind on Earth, arises to stop them at all costs. At his disposal is a deadly and merciless army that has been awaiting this very war, an army as unstoppable as it is relentless.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Over the ruins of the lost Mayan city of El Mirador, a blood moon is about to rise, triggering the end of mankind unless Alex and Sam can prevail in a struggle that will determine the fate of the planet. As forces both ancient and modern converge, as painful choices must be made and sacrifices accepted, two young heroes will rise again to stand as the final line of defense to preserve their world and their love.</span><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">A remarkable blend of suspense, sci-fi and mystery, BLOOD MOON is a worthy sequel to THE RISING that will be sure to delight sci-fi fans everywhere. Land and Graham work seamlessly together to create a true masterpiece, a book that will leave you on the edge of your seat and wanting more! It combines sci-fi, mystery, with teen romance/angst thrown in for good measure! this book should appeal to a broad range of fans, mystery, sci-fi and romance lovers alike!</span></div><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">We sincerely hope there will be more offerings and adventures ahead for Alex and Samantha! the book releases today - check it out at your local bookstore!</span></div><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Five Paws UP!!!!!!!!</span></div>ROCCO LOTEMPIOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11802156583980282446noreply@blogger.com0