Sunday, February 8, 2026

SPOTLIGHT: CRITTERS AND CRIMES (Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club) by Elizabeth Pantley

Critters and Crimes: Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club 
by Elizabeth Pantley
Paranormal Cozy Mystery 
11th in Series 
Better Beginnings, Inc.
Published 1/15/2026 
Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

A quaint riverside town holds many secrets ... and the only ones who’ve seen it all are the critters. 

This book club dives (literally!) into the pages of a cozy mystery. The quirky group must solve the mystery to get out of the book. It’s so much fun - you’ll wish you had a book club like this! 


In this journey, they choose a book set in a lovely riverside town. They land in a charming neighborhood and find they are part of a local book club. They are having a great time – and then a dead body shows up. (Of course it does!) The clues to what happened come to them in a unique way – via the critters in the house. 

As usual, the club finds plenty of time to enjoy the unique setting of their journey, as they solve the mystery – one critter at a time. 

This book is part of a magical cozy mystery series of 11 books and growing. Each book can be read as a standalone, but are much more fun in order.  Available in eBook, paperback, Kindle Unlimited, and audiobook. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR  

Elizabeth Pantley is a bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction books. She writes two well-loved cozy mystery series: The Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club, and the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic series. She has also written the international bestselling No-Cry Solution parenting book series that is available in over twenty languages. 

Elizabeth lives in the majestic Pacific Northwest and spends winters in the sunny desert of Arizona. While neither location is home to any paranormal beings (that she knows of) the vastly different, yet equally lovely locations are the inspiration for the settings in many of her books.

Join Elizabeth’s mailing list and get a free book from her Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club series. 






Monday, February 2, 2026

Book Review: MELODIES OF MALICE (Fiona Quinn Mysteries) by C. S. McDonald

About the Book:

When Fiona’s teenage cousin, Madison, finds the new Maestra for the Pittsburgh Junior Symphonic Orchestra dead, a web of espionage unravels! 

Fiona’s husband, Detective Landry, seeks out his mother’s international security firm, Global Shield, to assist with the investigation. They soon discover the Maestra was a Russian spy. Furthermore, an operative from Russia has been dispatched to the US to kill former female spies in order to protect delicate secrets. 

While the possibility that Madison’s life is in danger, Detective Landry places her under protective custody—in his and Fiona’s home. Global Shield operative, Ivan Guseva, stays with Fiona and takes up residence in the attic apartment where her ghostly grandma, Evelyn, lives. 

Much to Fiona’s dismay, he’s enjoying every moment, and it appears Grandma Ev is too! Meanwhile, Madison is proving to be quite the master of teenage shenanigans. 

Fiona’s about to move this investigation up an octave by pulling out her amateur sleuthing skills to track down a Russian operative, send her house guests packing, and bring her home back to normal—whatever that is. 

Review:

Once again, McDonald provides a cozy mytery worth reading. Fiona is still Fiona and wanting answers. Landry's protecting her as best he can and other family members do their part. The book is well-written and flows easily. There are surprises and twists to maintain interest. The characters are well-developed with enough back story sprinkled to allow this book to be read as a stand-alone. Highly recommend to those who enjoy the cozy mystery genre.

About the Author:

C.S. McDonald taught dance and choreographed shows for twenty-six years. Nowadays, she resides with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister, on their Thoroughbred farm, Fly-by-Night Stables, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. George the Pony is a real pony who lives among the tall Thoroughbreds on their farm. 

In 2016, Ms. McDonald decided to write a cozy mystery series. The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are quick clean reads for anyone 10 to 110! You'll love Fiona and the quirky, but oh so charming, Detective Landry. 

Fiona is a kindergarten teacher and an unlikely sleuth from Pittsburgh. If you've never been to Pittsburgh, welcome to this wonderful city! If you live in Pittsburgh, you're sure to recognize many of the venues featured in the books. Ms. McDonald has even sprinkled a little Pittsburghese into her stories just for fun. Yinz will love it! 

Hey! Don't miss C.S. McDonald's new addition to Fiona Quinn Mysteries--Fiona Quinn QUICK Mysteries! What's that? Short Stories (about 30/40 pages) for a quick bedtime read or if you're stuck with a long wait in a doctor's office (we've all been there). Four shorts in all. Check them out! 

Okay, now for something seriously exciting--C.S. McDonald has penned a second cozy mystery series, The Owl's Nest Mysteries--Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh to start a new business, the Owl's Nest Couturier Shop. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. Only here's the catch: he's got to solve three murders he failed to solve when he was alive, and he needs Alexa's help! This series has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lotta cozy! 

By the way, all of the Fiona Quinn Mysteries, short stories, and the OWL'S NEST MYSTERIES are now available on Audible--narrated by the incredibly talented, Maren Swenson Waxenberg!  

Hey! You can check out all the books, listen to excerpts from the audiobooks and more at C.S. McDonald's website.  
You can also connect her on: 



Like Cozy Mysteries?


  


Saturday, January 24, 2026

Book Review: DOODLED TO DEATH - A Dog Lover's Cozy Mystery (Barkview Mysteries Book 4) by C.B. Wilson

ABOUT THE BOOK 

In Barkview, the dog-friendliest city in America, TV producer Cat Wright faces her worst nightmare—becoming the temporary guardian to a mischievous Golden Doodle. A confirmed cat person, Cat reluctantly takes in the victim's dog while investigating two intertwined mysteries: anonymous accusations against an aviation pioneer from the 1920s and the suspicious drowning of her sister's professor boyfriend. 

As earthquakes rattle the coastal town, Cat discovers the charismatic canine might be her best ally in uncovering century-old family rivalries, hidden speakeasies, and the legend of a missing diamond. With treasure hunters closing in and her sister as the prime murder suspect, Cat must solve both puzzles before another death occurs. 

Through underground tunnels, beachside dives, and encounters with eccentric locals, Cat's reluctant partnership with her four-legged companion teaches her unexpected lessons about loyalty, intuition, and opening her heart—even as she races to catch a killer hiding in plain sight. 

A cozy mystery where historical intrigue meets canine charm, "Doodled to Death" chronicles one cat person's surprising journey into the world of dogs, detection, and devotion. Fans of animal cozies will love the mix of humor and intricate plotting—and they’ll go nuts for G-Paw. 

REVIEW 

All the books in the Barkview Mysteries are fun reads and this was no exception. This one has two mysteries - one involving Skye and a treasure from years past, and one the current murder. Cat - a cat person- and her current dog, G-paw, make a great team as Cat sets out to prove her sister's innocence. There's a bit of historical context, a bit of humor, and many twists, turns, and secret doors. The book is well-written and held my interest. Fans of cozy mysteries and dog lovers will enjoy this one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Award-Winning Mystery Author CB Wilson Blends Puzzles, Pups, and Precious Gems Diamonds & Dogs. An award-winning author CB Wilson launched her writing journey after finishing a Nancy Drew mystery where she rewrote the ending. A lifelong animal advocate, she created the beloved Barkview Mysteries, blending her love of puzzles and pups. 

Her newest series, Gem Hunters, sparkles with adventure and authentic detail, inspired by her Gemology degree from the Gemological Institute of America. CB believes the best stories—like the best chocolate—should be savored slowly.




Thursday, January 22, 2026

Spotlight: HER LAST BEST FRIEND (Shadow Lake Ranch Murders Book 1) by Nellie H. Steele



Her Last Best Friend (Shadow Lake Ranch Murders)
Psychological Thriller 1st in Series
Setting – Shadow Lake Ranch, a working ranch in Montana Publisher ‏ : ‎ A Novel Idea Publishing, LLC 
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 23, 2025 
Print length ‏ : ‎ 316 pages 

About the Book:

A friendship. A betrayal. A body. Welcome to Shadow Lake Ranch…where friendships come to die. 

Quiet Lindsey isn’t sure about spending twelve weeks at Shadow Lake Ranch. Her best friend, Mel, swears the luxury retreat will be the perfect escape—horseback riding, yoga, emotional bonding. A killer summer. 

But from the moment they arrive, something feels off. Lindsey can’t shake the dread curling in her stomach. And when she meets Travis—the charming cowboy who seems to only have eyes for her—things get even more complicated. 

Especially when it seems Mel has set her sights on him, too. 


As the lines between truth and paranoia blur, Lindsey begins to question everything—her friendship, her relationship, even her own mind. 

And when Mel turns up dead, Lindsey becomes the prime suspect.

Was she the jealous best friend who finally snapped? Or is someone else hiding a much darker secret? 

At Shadow Lake Ranch, nothing is what it seems. 

And there’s only one truth: You can’t trust anyone. 

Her Last Best Friend is a twisty psychological thriller perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover’s Verity, Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, and Ruth Ware’s The It Girl. 

AMAZON

About the Author

Nellie H. Steele is a storyteller who doesn’t just write books—she writes the stories her characters tell her. With distinct voices and minds of their own, her characters often take over, guiding her through tales of romance, mystery, adventure, and suspense. 

A lifelong bookworm, Nellie vividly recalls sitting on the concrete floor of her childhood library, eagerly devouring Nancy Drew books and dreaming of solving mysteries of her own. Now an award-winning author, she spends her days crafting immersive worlds and unforgettable characters that feel like old friends. Her house is a zoo—literally—thanks to her rescue animals who seem perfectly happy napping while she writes. 

Nellie’s writing process often involves background TV she never actually watches because she’s too wrapped up in her characters’ antics. When she’s not spinning stories, she works as a professor of statistics, where students who know her as an author are often surprised to find she really does teach math. 

If you love twisty mysteries, soap-opera-style romance, and thrilling adventures, dive into Nellie’s books today and discover worlds you won’t want to leave. Connect with Nellie:

Website ~ FacebookInstagramGoodreadsYouTube

GIVEAWAY:   

https://kingsumo.com/g/1rjel23/her-last-best-friend-shadow-lake-ranch-murders-by-nellie-h-steele