Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Guest Blogger....LAURA CHILDS!!!!!!!!!

Meow!
I’m thrilled to have as my guest blogger this week, NYTimes Bestselling author Laura Childs!

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of 17 Tea Shop Mysteries, 13 Scrapbooking Mysteries, and 6 Cackleberry Club Mysteries.  On July 5 she will release Little Girl Gone, the first book in her Afton Tangler Thriller Series written by Gerry Schmitt.  In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays.  She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Shar-Pei dogs. (But we love her anyway LOL)

What’s a Tea Shop Mystery without
steaming pots of tea and delicious food!

A guest blog by Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of
Devonshire Scream, the newest Tea Shop Mystery.


Ah, food.  Lucky me.  Since my Tea Shop Mysteries distinctly fall into the category of culinary mystery, my main characters always seem to be caught in a dizzying aray of tea and food.  Theodosia, my beloved tea shop owner and protagonist, is constantly sipping new teas from Ceylon and India.  While Haley, her young wunderkind baker, dances about the kitchen creating tasty new sandwiches and savories.  And there’s Drayton, too, tea sommelier and arbiter of good taste at the Indigo Tea Shop.  When these three characters aren’t kicking dead bodies out of the way, they’re focused on serving tea and staging events such as a Full Monty Tea, Lady Devonshire Tea, and Lavender Dreams Tea.

And, oh yes, they do catering, too.  In Devonshire Scream, Theodosia caters a fancy soiree at Heart’s Desire Fine Jewelry in Charleston, SC.  But when  
a gang of jewel thieves stage a daring “smash and grab” raid, she gets yanked into a bizarre mystery.  Could the robbers have been led by a wealthy yacht broker, transplanted European, motorcycle tough guy, or mild-mannered professor?  The FBI thinks international jewel thieves are at work, but when the Heritage Society decides to put a priceless Faberge Egg on display, Theodosia takes matters into her own hands and investigates.

Lots of excitement ensues as Devonshire Scream delivers a gripping, realistic murder that also includes tea tips and recipes for Cranberry Cream Scones, Shortbread Squares, and Waldorf Tea Sandwiches.

And if your taste buds are suddenly craving a special tea treat, why not try my favorite recipe for scones: 

Chocolate Sour Cream Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
½ cup butter
1 beaten egg yolk
8 oz. sour cream
½ cup miniature chocolate chips

Mix together flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Cut in butter.  Add egg yolk and sour cream and mix.  Add chocolate chips and stir until soft.  Spoon dough (about 2 Tbsp worth for each scone) onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.


Even Laura's dogs love 'em!!!!!!!
Reader Giveaway!

Win one of two hardcover copies of DEVONSHIRE SCREAM, inscribed and signed by Laura Childs.


To enter, leave a comment on this blog post with your name and email address (entries without email will be disqualified). For extra entries, you can do any or all of the below:


* Follow my blog (+ 1 point)
* Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point) (Link: https://twitter.com/RoccoBlogger)
* Tweet about the contest (+ 1 point)
* Friend me on Facebook (+ 1 point) (Link: https://www.facebook.com/ToniLotempio)#!/
* Mention the contest on Facebook (+ 1 point)
* Mention the contest on your blog (+ 1 point)

Winner will be chosen at random using random.org.  Don’t forget to mention all you’ve done in your comment. Good luck! Contest closes midnight, March 6!



27 comments:

  1. I'd love to win this delightful book! Thanks for the opportunity!
    sharonbabyme@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, Lovely scones and your books!(Both of you!)
    Tonette
    tonettemjs@gmail.com
    I follow on Twitter
    I tweeted
    I follow the blog
    I am a Friend on FB.
    I shared on FB

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the title, and I'm ready to dive into that recipe it sounds delicious ! kathambre@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am such a big fan of Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mystery series having also converted my sister to the world of Theodosia and her shop. I am having a delightful time reading the series and renewing my passion with tea! kat8762@aol.com
    * Follow my blog (+ 1 point)
    * Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point)
    * Tweet about the contest (+ 1 point)
    * Friend me on Facebook (+ 1 point)
    * Mention the contest on Facebook (+ 1 point)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I do love this series! Thanks so much for the chance to win. I follow your blog, am your FB friend, and shared on my FB page. dmskrug3(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. You can be sure the dogs aren't getting chocolate in their scones.
    Tea and scones=perfection with a good book to read.
    I visit the blog regularly
    We are FB friends and I've posted this on my page
    I don't tweet or have a blog

    libbydodd at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a great interview, and what a wonderful giveaway. Thanks for the chance!

    * Follow my blog (+ 1 point)
    * Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point)
    * Friend me on Facebook (+ 1 point)
    * Mention the contest on Facebook (+ 1 point)

    frybbe @ gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love this series and the recipes

    I follow you on Twitter
    We are Facebook friends

    kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  9. A wonderful series!
    I follow by FB merri Marie House and by email lorih824@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. A wonderful series!
    I follow by FB merri Marie House and by email lorih824@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Laura Childs has written a wonderful series. I am sure this book will be just as enticing as the others. robeader53@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. I'm always eager to read a new book in this series. Thanks for the giveaway.
    I also follow your blog, follow on twitter, and follow on facebook.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Another giveaway, an author i always search for.I follow the blog and friended on Facebook. silverladybug14@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have enjoyed every one of her Tea Shop mysteries. I love the info about all the different teas. Of course, the mystery is always purrfect.
    I subscribe to your blog
    I shared the interview/giveaway on Facebook
    We are friends on Facebook
    jmvarner50@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to read this! Have not read any from this series, and only one so far of the scrapbooking mysteries, the most recent one with Terrie Moran. Enjoy the writing style and humor!
    I subscribe to your blog by email;
    We are friends on Facebook;
    I shared the post on Facebook (Randy N Jeanie Dannheim) and on Google Plus (Jeanie Dannheim).
    jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I can hardly wait to read the latest happenings in Charleston at the Indigo Tea Shop. Loved Laura's guest blog. Thanks so much. I'm going to have to try the scones!
    Sips and Smiles,
    Teresa freaps4@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for allowing me to enter your contest. I won a copy of Devonshire Scream on another blog, so please remove my name from your contest. Thank you again.

      Delete
  18. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  19. The cover on this book is making me hungry! I want to win.
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

    ReplyDelete
  20. I follow you on Twitter as @Sillysiamese
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow you on GFC as Carolsue
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

    ReplyDelete
  22. I tweeted
    https://twitter.com/Sillysiamese/status/706235298787651585
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

    ReplyDelete
  23. I mentioned on Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/MsCarolsueA/posts/1004470852943409
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

    ReplyDelete
  24. I posted this giveaway on my blog
    http://mscarolsue.blogspot.com/2015/05/giveaways-ive-entered.html
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am already friends with you on Facebook
    Carolsue Anderson
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love the cover and would love to read and review looks and sounds so good! ptclayton2@aol.com mentioned on facebook and already liked on facebook

    ReplyDelete