Spotlight: SWEET PEPPER HERO by J. J. Cook

Today, it's my pleasure to spotlight SWEET PEPPER HERO - I've enjoyed this series, so it is on my TBR list for sure!  

Sweet Pepper Hero: A Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade

Cozy Mystery

4th in Series

A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Published by Penguin Random House, LLC.

Release Date: January 5, 2016

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

ISBN-13: 978-0425279236

E-Book ASIN: B00W2ZKNZ8

Synopsis
Old rivalries heat up in the fourth Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade mystery from the national bestselling author of In Hot Water.

Fire chief Stella Griffin has been put in charge of judging the annual recipe contest, but Eric—her resident ghost and true culinary genius—has vanished. 

Before she can track down his latest haunt, she’s called in to investigate a local moonshine distillery that was set ablaze, making her realize there’s more than pies and cakes cooking in Sweet Pepper.

As rumors of a revived whiskey war ignite, Stella turns to the town’s elders to help her find answers. The past might have some clues as to what has sparked the present fires. But when following a lead lands her in buried rubble, Stella realizes she must extinguish this case fast or she might be going down in flames.

About The Authors
J. J. Cook is a pseudonym for a married couple who writes mysteries, mostly set in the South, with a touch of paranormal and romance.

Author Links:
Webpage Facebook Twitter

Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N Google Play

Giveaway!!!

One (1) print copy will be given away (US addresses only, sorry)! Leave a comment to be entered - random drawing.  

Blog Tour: A DICKENS OF A MURDER by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Synopsis:
Christmas at Canterville!

Lisa Wellman and Simon Canterville are surprised to find a dead man on their roof in the midst of rushing to open the Canterville Book Shop in time for the holidays. And not just any dead man – Ebenezer Hart – the man who opposed the book shop opening in Olde Town, Portsmouth, Virginia.

What might be more surprising is when Daniel Fairhaven – Lisa’s ex – turns up at the door of the three-story Victorian house to head the police investigation. She hasn’t seen him in years but the sparks start to fly as soon as they are in the same room together.

Simon and Lisa are obviously the best suspects for the murder. Each of them had something to gain by Hart’s death. Then an attempt on Simon’s life throws that theory into a tailspin.

But the biggest surprise yet comes when the ghost of Charles Dickens turns up to help Lisa with the murder investigation – and writing the mystery novel she has been working on for years.

Without a doubt, Daniel and Dickens in Lisa’s life means trouble. And there’s still the matter of trying to get the book shop open with a killer on their heels.

Review

All Lisa has ever wanted was to read books and perhaps write a book. With a forced life change, Simon provides the opportunity for her to partner in a book store, complete with a loft room for her to live in.  Then there's Hart's body found on the roof outside her window, her ex-husband as the Detective in charge, and the ghost of Dickens who wants to help her as an author. Lisa tries to find others with motive for Hart's murder, but it looks like the true target may be Simon. In the mean time, she needs to get rid of the ghost and avoid Daniel.

This book has a bit of everything - mystery, romance, and, yes, the ghost of Dickens. A fun read with twists and turns readers have come to expect from Joyce and Jim. 

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 Authors 
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

It goes without saying that Joyce will be missed by readers and fellow authors like.

Author Links
www.joyceandjimlavene.com
www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene
http://amazon.com/author/jlavene
https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene

Purchase Link
Amazon

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Blog Tour: DAE'S CHRISTMAS PAST (Missing Pieces Mysteries #6) by Joyce and Jim Lavene

SYNOPSIS:

When wild horse rescue director Tom Watts is found dead on Duck Road, newly re-elected mayor Dae O’Donnell is determined to find out who killed him. Her friend Jake Burleson is accused of killing Tom even though the two men have been good friends for years.

The problem is the excavation of the horse cult that’s been happening on Jake’s property. Tom and several archaeologists working on the project think that Jake should give up his land to widen the search for artifacts. Jake won’t do that.

It’s not that Jake hasn’t been acting strangely. He shoved one of the ancient stone horses into Dae’s hands when he knew she was afraid to touch it. He’s obsessed with stopping the excavation—maybe to the point of killing Tom.

But Dae thinks there may be more to the story. Jake’s determination has shown her what the horse cult was used for thousands of years ago, the destruction the demon horses brought before they were stopped. She’s afraid something of the past may have already returned to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and there may be more deaths to come. Featuring Pet Psychic Mary Catherine Roberts!

REVIEW:
This story has everything - Dae with her "sense" of history of items she touches, a pet psychic, the caring grandfather, and the ex-FBI agent, Kevin.  When her long time friend, Jake, asks her to discern what is behind the horse statues, Dae senses something is not right. Mary Catherine's arrival and reports of animals being distressed and a sense of foreboding support Dae's unease. Will the Outer Banks fall to more than ghost horses that leave footprints and destruction in their wake?  Could the ghost horses be responsible for the death of Tom Watts?

This is the 6th in the Missing Pieces Mysteries series. Dae and her friends have history, but you can read this one as a stand alone.  Joyce and Jim have done another great job of crafting this story.  If you like the paranormal twist to your mysteries, you will surely enjoy DAE'S CHRISTMAS PAST.  I'm looking forward to her future (#7).  The previous books in the series were:

A TIMELY VISION
A TOUCH OF GOLD
A SPIRITED GIFT
A HAUNTING DREAM
A FINDER'S FEE

Also be sure to check out the other series by Joyce and Jim:  Renaissance Faire Mysteries, Peggy Lee Garden Mysteries, Pet Psychic Mysteries (featuring Mary Catherine), Stock Car Racing Mysteries, Taxi for the Dead Paranormal Mysteries, and Retired Witches Mysteries. 

ABOUT JOYCE AND JIM LAVENE
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

LINKS
www.joyceandjimlavene.com

www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene

http://amazon.com/author/jlavene

https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene

PURCHASE LINK: AMAZON

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: LETHAL LILY: A PEGGY LEE GARDENING MYSTERY by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Synopsis
Part-time garden shop owner/part-time forensic botanist, Peggy Lee is trying to discover if the death of Ann Fletcher 20 years ago was an accident – or foul play. In return, she hopes to receive more information about her first husband’s death. She knows John Lee was murdered, but questions have arisen as to why he was killed. She is working with a private detective who stumbles across his own feet, but her Internet friend, Nightflyer, says that Harry Fletcher has the answers. When Harry is murdered by convallatoxin, from the lily of the valley plant, Peggy begins to understand her role in everything. Now she has to stay alive long enough to prove her theories – and keep her son, Paul out of trouble too!

Review

This NEW release continues the story of Peggy Lee, a botanist associated with the medical examiner when there is a possible poisoning.  She still doesn't have closure on her husband's murder despite her marriage to Steve, who was John's FBI partner.  Her efforts to hide her own investigation from Steve and from her son backfire when the person who is supposed to have some of the answers is poisoned.  Peggy continues to work on the case but it gets complicated and potentially dangerous for Peggy. Even when many questions are answered, there are still some questions.  LETHAL LILY was only released last week, and I am hoping Joyce and Jim write fast.

About The Authors

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with 

their family.

Author Links
www.joyceandjimlavene.com
www.peggyleegardenmysteries.com
www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene
http://amazon.com/author/jlavene
https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene

Tour Participants
May 5 – Back Porchervations – Review
May 6 – Our Wolves Den – Review
May 6 – Deal Sharing Aunt – Interview
May 7 – Brooke Blogs – Review
May 8 – Thoughts in Progress – Guest Post
May 9 – readalot – Review
May 10 – Christa Reads and Writes – Review
May 11 – OFF
May 12 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview
May 13 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review
May 14 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Guest Post
May 15 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – Review
May 16 – Traci Andrighetti’s blog – Interview,
May 17 – Michele Lynn Seigfried’s Blog – Review, Guest Post
May 18 – OFF
May 19 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Guest Post
May 20 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review
May 21 – Community Bookstop – Guest Post

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