Friday, October 20, 2017

Blog Tour and Review: BEST-LAID PLANTS by Marty Wingate

Best-Laid Plants: A Potting Shed Mystery
by Marty Wingate


SYNOPSIS

A trip to the English countryside turns into a brush with death for Pru Parke, the only gardener whose holiday wouldn’t be complete without a murder to solve.

Pru and her husband, former Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse, are long overdue for a getaway. So when Pru is invited to redesign an Arts and Crafts garden in the picturesque Cotswolds, she and Christopher jump at the chance. Unfortunately, their B&B is more ramshackle than charming, and the once thriving garden, with its lovely Thyme Walk, has fallen into heartbreaking neglect. With the garden’s owner and designer, Batsford Bede, under the weather, Pru tackles the renovation alone. But just as she’s starting to make headway, she stumbles upon Batsford’s body in the garden—dead and pinned beneath one of his limestone statues.

With such a small police force in the area, Christopher is called upon to lead the investigation. Pru can’t imagine anyone murdering Batsford Bede, a gentle man who preferred to spend his time in quiet contemplation, surrounded by nature. But as her work on the garden turns up one ominous clue after another, Pru discovers that the scenery is more dangerous than she or Christopher could have anticipated.

Marty Wingate’s captivating mysteries can be enjoyed together or separately, in any order:

The Potting Shed series: 

THE GARDEN PLOT
THE RED BOOK OF PRIMROSE HOUSE
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
THE SKELETON GARDEN
THE BLUEBONNET BETRAYAL
BEST-LAID PLANTS

REVIEW

Pru and Christopher travel to the very location where they met three years ago and plan to attend the same fete. The purpose of the trip, however, is for Pru to determine what needs to be done to restore Mr. Bede's extensive gardens to their prior glory. Since the death of Conn... he has let them go wild. Conn...'s daughter Coral has returned with word of his failing health and asked Pru for her assistance.

There are many unique characters and inter-relationships, including the discovery of Cynthia Mouser, a woman Christopher was involved with many years ago, who now is a frequent visitor to Mr. Bede. The individual histories unfold with tension rising and falling. When Mr. Bede is found dead in the gardens, there are a number of suspects and only one heir.

Similar to others in this series and some other English mysteries, the pace at the beginning is slower than I'm used to, but moves along at a good pace once the foundation is set. Pru and Christopher work well together - Cynthia is an interesting distraction. If you've liked others in this series, this one will not disappoint; however, it can also be read as a stand alone.


FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review as part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marty Wingate is a Seattle-based writer and speaker who shares her love of Britain in her two mystery series. The Potting Shed books feature Pru Parke, a middle-aged American gardener transplanted from Texas to England, and Birds of a Feather follows Julia Lanchester, bird lover, who runs a tourist office in a Suffolk village. Marty writes garden articles for magazines including Country Gardens and theAmerican Gardener. She is a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Crime Writers Association. She leads garden tours to England, Scotland and Ireland, spending free moments deep in research for her books. Or in pubs.
MARTY

AUTHOR LINKS:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martywingateauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/martywingate

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/453259.Marty_Wingate

Website: www.martywingate.com

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marthawingate/

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Marty-Wingate/e/B001JS1AIS


PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon B&N kobo Google Play


TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 16 – Carole's Book Corner – REVIEW

October 16 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews - SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

October 18 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

October 19 – Reading Reality - REVIEW

October 20 – Christ Reads and Writes – REVIEW

October 21 - The Power of Words - REVIEW

October 22 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

October 23 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

October 24 – Celticlady's Reviews - SPOTLIGHT

October 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 26 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST

October 27 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW

October 29 – A Chick Who Reads - REVIEW


Sunday, October 15, 2017

Blog Tour and Review: TRAIL OF DEFECTS by Sara Caudall


Synopsis


This modern day mystery contains unpredictable elements, reminiscent of earlier days in the Wild West. Crime waves in a small town can be confusing but it is especially daunting for Sheriff Hobson. It is unclear which side of the law his townspeople are on. Starting with an armed robbery of Kelly’s Lounge, elder abuse, and a runaway child, strange happenings pileup.

Review

A small town mystery, the story line of TRAIL OF DEFECTS has multiple story lines that intersect in the way that only happen in small towns. Tiffany and her mother Joyce are the newcomers, supposedly taking care of Edna. Sarah is also a newcomer to the town and supposed to do rehab with Edna. Everyone else takes each other for granted and no one, least of all the sheriff or DA, can quite figure out how the robbery at Kelly's, the sorrel left in someone's pasture, the runaway, and the murder could be connected. Certainly, they didn't expect that Travis Bristol's gun would figure into three of the occurrences, without his even knowing it was missing. 

The plot unwinds with each incident, piece by piece, and the murderer isn't necessarily obvious. There are unique twists to keep one's interest. 


FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review as part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
About The Author 

I grew up in a small ranching community in Colorado where I learned to judge beef on the hoof and under wrap. After moving around the country for my husband’s career and catching college courses as I could, I finally found myself in one place long enough to finish my degree. I was an artist (acrylic), raised three children, managed offices, and started my own genealogy resource business before weaving my stories and experiences into novels. I now lives in central Texas with my patient husband and four cats. In my spare time I do genealogy and historical research and nurses orphan kittens back to health for the local animal shelter.

Links 

Twitter:@CaudellSara 

Purchase links


Other Books in the Series




Thursday, October 12, 2017

Interview and Review: HALLOWEEN IS MURDER : A McKinley Mystery by Carolyn Arnold

Interview with Carolyn Arnold about Halloween is Murder

What inspired you to write Halloween is Murder?Halloween is probably the most popular holiday next to Christmas! Who wouldn’t want to read a Halloween-themed murder mystery? And it’s kept light and fun.

I understand this is part of the McKinley Mystery series, but can this book stand on its own? And can you share with us what the book is about?

Halloween is Murder can easily be read as a standalone.


In Halloween is Murder, Sean and Sara McKinley are set to celebrate Halloween in style, and they’re eager to invite the entire city to visit their haunted house fund-raiser. But their recorded segment for a local television station goes unaired and the reporter is later found dead. Sara’s determined to get answers, and she brings Sean and their entire PI firm along with her. There are more tricks than treats, however, as they try to carve out the truth.

Please tell us a little more about the McKinleys and their series. 

Romance. Humor. Murder. 
Those three words best sum up what readers can expect from the McKinley Mysteries series.

These stories are cozy in nature and appeal to readers who love a murder mystery without the gore or foul language. Each installment is novella length, with the exception of The Day Job is Murder, which is a short story. This makes the books “perfect for curling up for an afternoon” (Brooke Blogs) and “perfect to bring along on vacation” (Bound 4 Escape). The Layaway Dragon describes the series as, “perfect if you like clean-cut characters, a sweetheart romance, having the money to follow your dreams, and crime-solving abilities.”

To tell you a bit more, Sean and Sara McKinley are former homicide detectives with a talent for attracting death investigations wherever they go. When a billionaire leaves them all his money, they no longer have to work for a living, but they find themselves sticking to what they’re good at—solving murders. From sleuths to eventual private investigators, they’ll do whatever it takes to solve a case. Whether that means going undercover, off the books, or around the world, you can be certain they’ll be romancing it up along the way.


This is the perfect book series for fans of Hart to Hart, Castle, Columbo, Monk, Rockford Files, Psych, and Magnum PI.

What can readers expect when they crack the cover?

They can expect to feel the chill in the air, to see the colored leaves on the ground, and to slip into the world of make-believe in true Halloween spirit while Sean and Sara search for a killer. There is also, of course, some humor and romance along the way.


Name one specific just-for-fun liberty you took with the book? 

In Christmas is Murder, I named the chapters after holiday-related songs, and I carried a bit of this fun over to Halloween is Murder. Each chapter is titled with a play on Halloween-related words or phrases. Here are some examples (in no particular order): “Dreading the ‘Boo,’” “Stuck Between a Grave and a Tombstone,” “An Attempt to Sweeten the Cauldron,” and “Grim Reaper Claims a Victim.”


What’s your favorite part about Halloween?

Seeing how happy people are when they dress up and pretend to be someone else for the night. And let’s not forget the candy!


What makes Halloween is Murder the perfect Halloween read?

It’s fun and light, just like the holiday. Throw in a murder to solve, dressing up, some cloak-and-dagger, and a haunted house, and who can say no to that?

Book Overview:

Beware of all that goes bump in the night…

Sean and Sara McKinley are excited about the haunted house they’ve set up as a Halloween charity fund-raiser, but things take a ghoulish turn when the reporter covering their story is found dead. With the media keeping mum about how she died, Sara’s curiosity is piqued, and she convinces Sean to take on the investigation through their PI firm.


But this case is not without its challenges. The police are actively investigating it, as well, and it’s not even clear that the woman was murdered. It will take a little cloak-and-dagger, dress-up, and finesse for the McKinleys to get to the bottom of it, but they aren’t the kind to give up.

As they troll for leads and work through the skeletons in the reporter’s closet, they unearth a few suspects, but they’ll need to carve out the whole truth if they’re going to find her killer. If they do so fast enough, there might even be time for a little trick-or-treating.


You can buy Halloween is Murder wherever books are sold, including the following popular retailers:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo | Google Play

To find out more about Halloween is Murder and the other installments in the McKinley Mysteries series, including box sets, visit CarolynArnold.net/Mckinley-Mysteries.


Review

Sara is much more invested in finding Chloe's murder, while Sean and Jimmy are hesitant given that it's an open investigation and it's not yet evident she was murdered. The haunted house is a good backdrop, and of course, as with the money for their investigations, everything goes to charity. The camera man is a bit odd, the data disk with the haunted house is missing, and who knew Chloe had a twin. Some quirky characters and twists add to the fun. This is part of a series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. The pace is quick, typical of other McKinley Mysteries. And like the others, this one does not disappoint.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

About the McKinley Mysteries:


Romance. Humor. Murder. Are you looking for a murder mystery without all the graphic violence and foul language? Something that you can enjoy in an afternoon and walk away feeling good about afterward? How about a dash of humor and romance? If so, meet former detectives Sean and Sara McKinley. When a billionaire leaves them all his money, they no longer have to work, but they find themselves sticking to what they’re good at—solving murders. Undercover, off the books, and around the world, they’ll get to the bottom of things…and romance it up along the way.


This is the perfect book series for fans of Hart to Hart, Castle, Columbo, Monk,  Rockford FilesPsych, and Magnum PI.

About the Author


Carolyn Arnold is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series and has written nearly thirty books. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark, POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook
And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Blog Tour: FIREWORKS IN PARADISE (TJ Jensen Mystery Series) by Kathi Daley

Synopsis


While on vacation in South Carolina, Tj Jensen receives a call that her father has been left in a coma after a devastating car crash. Back home in Paradise Lake, Tj learns the accident that killed family friend Judge Harper and left her father clinging to life wasn’t an accident at all—someone cut their brake lines. To make matters worse, her friend and police contact, Deputy Roy Fisher, is working with a new partner who has no intention of letting Tj anywhere near the case. Facing an investigation more explosive than the annual fireworks show, Tj enlists the help of her best friends to unravel the mystery, all the while navigating a new romance and the thought her father may never wake up.

Review

Tj has her hands full between her two sisters, all the preparations for the fourth, and trying to solve the murder of Judge Harper with Kyle as her willing assistant. Only he is as much a distraction as help. Roy helps when he can, but his new partner is the one investigating Harper's death. A known suspect and one that the Judge may have identified as a killer in another case - Tj follows the leads along with her friends. The culprit isn't obvious until the end and the ending makes sense. Family, friends, romance and murder - what more could you ask for?  Another great read from Kathi Daley!

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review as part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.


Purchase Links

Amazon B&N

Books in the Tj Jensen Mystery Series:
PUMPKINS IN PARADISE (#1)
SNOWMEN IN PARADISE (#2)
BIKINIS IN PARADISE (#3)
CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE (#4)
PUPPIES IN PARADISE (#5)
HALLOWEEN IN PARADISE (#6)
TREASURE IN PARADISE (#7)
FIREWORKS IN PARADISE (#8)

About Kathi Daley

USA Today bestselling author, Kathi Daley, lives in beautiful Lake Tahoe with her husband Ken. When she isn’t writing, she likes spend time hiking the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home. She has authored more than seventy five books in eight series including: Zoe Donovan Cozy MysteriesWhales and Tails Island MysteriesSand and Sea Hawaiian Mysteries,  Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Series,  Writer’s Retreat Southern Seashore MysteriesRescue Alaska Paranormal Mysteries,  and Seacliff High Teen Mysteries Find out more about her books at www.kathidaley.com
Stay up to date

Newsletter, The Daley Weekly http://eepurl.com/NRPDf

Kathi Daley Blog – publishes each Friday http://kathidaleyblog.com
Webpage – www.kathidaley.com
Facebook at Kathi Daley Books – www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks
Kathi Daley Teen – www.facebook.com/kathidaleyteen
Kathi Daley Books Group Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/569578823146850/
E-mail – kathidaley@kathidaley.com
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278377.Kathi_Daley
Twitter at Kathi Daley@kathidaley – https://twitter.com/kathidaley
Amazon Author Page –https://www.amazon.com/author/kathidaley
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathi-daley
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/kathidaley/

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Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Special Post: THE MISPLACED DOG by Christa Nardi & Cassidy Salem

Spotlighting the newest in the Hannah and Tamar Mystery Series - The Misplaced Dog - on SALE this week for $0.99!

Synopsis

A gorgeous addition places Playful Paws and its staff at the center of a mystery.

It’s love at first sight when Tamar meets Rusty – the newest resident at the local shelter where she volunteers. However, the arrival of the well-trained and affectionate dog coincides with the onset of suspicious and dangerous incidents involving the shelter and its staff. Is it a coincidence or is the dog the key to solving a major crime? In this latest addition to the Hannah and Tamar mystery series, the sisters are determined to find out.

AMAZON 

The Motivation Behind THE MISPLACED DOG


Both Cassidy and I are dog people - big dogs and little dogs. I especially prefer a lap-size dog, but I know a great dane who seems to think that description fits him. Growing up, my family had dogs when I was younger and then older. I don't really remember the dogs from the younger years. At some point, my mother decided to get a poodle as we all suffered from allergies and poodle dander is less of an irritant for many with allergies. Three generations of poodles and all spoiled like crazy. 

As an adult, I wanted to get a dog, but many apartments didn't allow pets. At one point, some one I knew convinced me to go with her and help out at the local shelter. I took dogs for walks, cleaned out cages and runs, fed them and loved on them. And took a lot of antihistamines! I tried to adopt one terrier, but allergies got in the way. 


The friend, who is now in charge of that shelter, spotted an ad for a poodle puppy and I got myself a puppy from a breeder who couldn't keep the pup or others. Cocoa has since gone over the Rainbow Bridge. A second dog, found abandoned in a park joined our family by default - a poodle mix. He and Cocoa kept each other coming and he is now with Cocoa. 

Currently, we have three dogs - a purebred miniature poodle who was owner surrendered to a local rescue, a mini poodle mix found emaciated and rescued, and a lhasa apso-shitzu mix we inherited from one of our adult children (see below). They bring us much joy and are definitely counted as members of our family, even when they choose to sleep in odd places.



About the Series

The release of The Mysterious Package in October 2016 marked the launch of the Hannah and Tamar Mystery series, a new mystery series for young adults and teens written by Christa Nardi and Cassidy Salem. Mrs. Tedesco’s Missing Cookbook was released in April 2017. The third book in the Hannah and Tamar YA mystery series, The Misplaced Dog was released in August 2017. All three books are available for Kindle, in paperback, or through Kindle Unlimited. For more about the series, click here.

Amazon Reviews for The Misplaced Dog

"Who knew that volunteering at Playful Paws would lead to discovering a murder had been committed! This is a cozy mystery for young adults. It is well written and the characters sparkle."

"Cute mystery for young teens. ... With such lovable characters, I can see this series becoming a best seller."

"Another great book for teens. I enjoyed reading about the sisters Hannah and Tamar. This time they have a new problem to solve. ... This is a fun, entertaining mystery!"

Read an excerpt from The Misplaced Dog

“I don’t get it. Why couldn’t you do your community service closer to home? I’m gonna be late for my study group at the library.”

The Playful Paws animal shelter was located on the eastern outskirts of Rosedale, Maryland. Only a 10 minute drive from Rosedale High, you’d think it was on the moon to judge from Hannah’s complaining.

“You know, I could drop you off at school and take the car the rest of the way myself. It’s not my fault you insist on driving.” Tamar knew that wasn’t going to happen.

“Fat chance.” Hannah shook her head.

Tamar had recently passed her driving test and was itching to spend more time behind the wheel, even if it meant putting up with her sister’s non-stop criticisms. Hannah, on the other hand, wasn’t about to give up the driver’s seat.

The Bertolet’s green Subaru Outback pulled up in front of a dreary, red brick building in Rosedale’s industrial area. The parking lot was half full.

“Be ready to leave at 6:30 – I’ll text you when I get here. And don’t make me wait for you. Dad’ll be mad if we’re late.”

“Alright. I get it. Your wish is my command.” Tamar slammed the car door shut and headed into the building.

The ever-present scent of disinfectant and incessant barking filled the building. Playful Paws was just one of the animal shelters in the greater Baltimore area that housed cats and dogs in need of a good home. Temporary residents, the animals were kept in two rows of enclosures in an old warehouse.

Tamar stopped to greet two other volunteers, Zola and Jason, who were busy sweeping out the enclosures and filling water dishes.

“Hi, Tamar. How’s it going?” Zola was a second-year student at Towson University, where she was majoring in zoology. Tall and slim with long blonde hair and big blue eyes, she looked like a model.

“Great. So looking forward to our next adoption event.”

Jason watched the two young women but didn’t say anything. A senior at a different high school, Jason flashed Tamar a shy smile. It was his second year volunteering at the shelter, and he was almost never at a loss for words, except for when Tamar was around. Zola was amused by his obvious interest in the slender, dark haired teen who seemed oblivious to his admiration.

Tamar spoke softly to the residents as she walked down the long row of enclosures to reach the office in the back. This Paws shelter had a total of 18 enclosures, eight large enclosures on one side of the aisle, 10 smaller enclosures on the other. The center currently housed 19 dogs.

Two dogs were curled up together in the enclosure closest to the office. A bit of an odd couple – a small dachshund and a full grown Irish Setter. When the setter raised its head and gazed into Tamar’s eyes, her heart melted. She immediately spoke to the setter.

“Hey there, how’d you end up here?”

Joel Newman, the manager, stood in the doorway to the office. Passionate about animal welfare, the thirty-something year old worked as a free-lance designer to pay his bills. He always wore jeans and a t-shirt regardless of the weather, and today was no different. “I see our latest guests have made an impression.”

“Wow. That setter is gorgeous. Where did she come from? How could anyone surrender such a beautiful dog?”

“First, she is a he. Of course, it’s hard to tell the way he’s curled up right now. A lady found him wandering around the industrial area and dropped him off right before you got here. He has a collar but no tags. I was about to check to see if he’s chipped.”

“I’ll do it.”

Tamar reached for the handheld RFID reader. Although Maryland doesn’t require owners to have microchips implanted in their pets, the widespread practice makes it easier to identify and contact the owners of lost pets. As soon as she let herself into the enclosure, the dog sat upright and smiled; at least it looked like a smile to her.

She crouched down and held out her hand, waiting for the dog to come to her. He ambled over and smelled her hand before giving it a gentle nudge. She scratched him behind the ears and stroked his silky fur. He had a leather collar, his fur wasn’t matted, and he wasn’t shy.

The small brown dachshund was soon bouncing around her feet, demanding her share of attention. With the scanner tucked under her arm, Tamar tried to pet them both.

“You do realize you can’t play with them and scan the setter at the same time.” Joel chided her. “I think I’d better do it myself.”

Tamar shrugged.

Joel let himself in and took the scanner from her. Standing next to the setter, he commanded, “Sit.” And the dog sat. As he waved the scanner over the animal’s left shoulder, an indicator on the device flashed.

“Great, it looks like he has a chip.” He pressed a button on the device to save the reading and smiled. “Now, maybe we can find out who he belongs to.”

Back at the desk, Joel attempted to pull up the scanned data on his screen. “That’s odd.” A popup message indicated that no ID data had been found.

Tamar peered over his shoulder. “Must be an old or faulty chip.”

“What about the dachshund?”

“Already checked. No chip. No collar, either. Found her sitting outside when I got back from lunch. Well, since it looks like these two guys are going to be here for a while, we might as well give them names.”

Zola had walked over and heard the latter part of the conversation. “Let’s call the dachshund Ducky.”

“And the setter looks like a Rusty to me.” Tamar said.

“Sounds good to me. Let’s get their general descriptions, nicknames, and photographs into the database. I didn’t notice any immediate medical needs, still I’ll let Dr. Goodman know we have two new guests.” 
Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved.


SPOTLIGHT: BEWARE THE ORCHIDS (A Shady Acres Mystery) by Cynthia Hickey


Beware the Orchids (A Shady Acres Mystery)
by Cynthia Hickey

This was such a fun cozy mystery. It had everything I liked.

This series shows a lot of potential. I liked the characters and the setting.

Beware The Orchids is a 5 star start to a new series. I enjoyed the plot and the characters.

Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications
Release Date – February 4, 2016
Paperback: 216 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1944203061
E-BOOK ASIN: B01BI6RAGG

Synopsis


Ditched at the altar, Shelby Hart tosses down her bouquet, quits her job, and accepts a position as gardener and event coordinator at an upscale retirement community. Her first day on the job results with a dead body in the greenhouse under the orchids and with her as the prime suspect!

Toss in a handsome handyman, quirky characters, and a flirtatious grandma and the fun never stops.

About the Author


Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey has sold over a million copies of her works since 2013. She has taught a Continuing Education class at the 2015 American Christian Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW chapters and RWA chapters. You can find her on FB, twitter, and Goodreads, and is a contributor to Cozy Mystery Magazine blog and Suspense Sisters blog. She and her husband run the small press, Forget Me Not Romances, which includes some of the CBA’s best well-known authors. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs, one cat, and three box turtles. She has eight grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer.”

Website at www.cynthiahickey.com

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Hickey/e/B002W1MP2Q/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cynthia-Hickey-151333448227549/

Twitter: @cynthiahickey

Purchase Link
Amazon


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Monday, October 2, 2017

Blog Tour and Interview with TONYA KAPPES author of an AX TO GRIND: A Kenni Lowry Mystery

It's my pleasure to host and interview Tonya Kappes, author of AX TO GRIND today. Can you tell us a little about yourself? 

Hey girl! Well…..I’m five foot four inches, brown hair, brown eyes, and…Oh…you mean my writer self? Ha! 

I’ve got over 45 published novels. I write for three different traditional publishers as well as self publishing. This year marks my SEVEN year anniversary with a traditional publisher and ten years self publishing! WOW!!

My novels are all southern and set in Kentucky with some humor and quit a few murders. 

That is definitely a WOW! What sparked the idea to write this novel?
Ax To Grind is the third book in the Kenni Lowry Mystery Series. It’s about an author who died and left a manuscript that’s rumored to be a tell-all about all the people in the community. Of course her assistant is the only person who knows where the manuscript is and of course she’s murdered!

BUT the idea came to me after I’d done a mystery radio theater where there was a tell all book and people were getting murdered left and right over it. 

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 
No! I want them to sit back, put their feet up and enjoy some good old fashion murder solving while they laugh at these crazy characters.

What are your favorite things to do besides writing?
I have four sons in college. My husband and I love to visit with them. Since we are empty nesters now, we like to ride bikes and spend time cooking together.

How long have you been writing? 
Over twelve years. 

What inspires you to write? 
My readers are my inspiration. I was a child therapist before the book gig and I loved that job. In some ways it was a lot easier than writing! My main why is for ONE reader to escape from their daily grind into one of my books just long enough to forget what’s been going on in their life.

Who designed the book cover? 
The publisher, but they do let me have input.

Can you give us a sneak peek on what you are working on now? 
Though this is the third novel in the series, it’s a ten book deal with the publisher and I’m currently working on the sixth book. 

So, I guess that means we can look forward to the fourth in the near future...  

What is the most fascinating/ craziest thing you have done in the name of research?

Nothing so crazy, but I did take a citizens arrest and citizens police academy class. I also took some baking lessons and cake decorating classes for a new Southern Bakers Mystery Series coming out in 2018.

Thank you Tonya, now let's share the information on AX TO GRIND:


Synopsis

Southerners keep their secrets swept under the rug, but what happens when that rug goes up for sale?

Bestselling author Berlye Stone, the most famous citizen to ever come out of Cottonwood, Kentucky, has died and put all her worldly possessions up for auction, but not without leaving one more manuscript behind. A hidden tell-all about Cottonwood that’s got more gossip than a ladies’ luncheon.

When Beryle’s assistant turns up with an ax in her back and the only witness is in a coma, Sheriff Kenni Lowry reckons someone in town will do anything to keep the manuscript from seeing the light of day. Her poppa’s ghost returns to help piece together the life of the Beryle he once knew, but his memory’s a little foggy, and any misstep could cause them a world of trouble. With the help of Deputy Finn Vincent, can Kenni sort through the secrets buried in Beryle’s books, or will this be her final chapter?


Purchase Links:


About the Author
For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been publishing numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plot lines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans.

Sign up for her newsletter on her website at Tonyakappes.com.



Visit Tonya:

Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes,
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/208579765929709/

Webpage
tonyakappes.com

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