Book Review: RESORT TO HOMICIDE: A Merrifield Mystery Novella by Christine Chianti

Synopsis

Vacations can be Murder

After the loss of her husband, ex-homicide detective turned mystery writer, Laura Merrifield turns to her family. Giving in to her brother's request, she goes to visit his new island resort during a special weekend for the investors. Spending time at Rim Runners should have been the perfect prescription to help rebuild her life, but the mood at the resort is like the weather-stormy. As hurricane Anna cuts them off from the mainland, tempers flare resulting in threats and sabotage. When the body of one of the guests is found, Laura is forced to rely on her training to find the killer before the storm lets up and they can slip away.

Review

Laura Merrifield is a likable character, smart and not particularly thrilled to be in the position of solving a murder. In fact, she's rather write them than live them. Only there she is, in the middle of a storm and no way to for law enforcement to get over the bridge to them or for them to get to the mainland with a dead guest and a murderer. A quick read to be sure, but well-written. I haven't read others by Christine Chianti, but will look for more in the future.

AMAZON

Book Review: THE P.I. WHO FOUND CHRISTMAS : A Billie Bly Christmas Mystery by Don Weston

Synopsis

P.I. Billie Bly is stressed out.

Thieves are stealing Christmas Decorations in her neighborhood’s business district and a seven-year-old’s mother is missing. Her assistant, Angel’s, Christmas addiction is cluttering her home and when Angel’s loopy boyfriend begins poking his nose and other body parts into her business, something has to give.

The little girl is counting on Billie to find her mother and the police think her father is somehow involved.

She has five days to bring Christmas back for a young girl and learn who is stealing life sized Santa and Snowmen statues.

Review

Billie Bly doesn't really have time to figure out where   has disappeared, never mind whether it is voluntary or not. She has a bigger case and, as part of the business association, an investment in maintaining good relations to find the missing snowmen. After all, there was a lot of money invested in these decorations to light up the businesses. Billie enlists the help of a dog in training to check out her suspicions, at the same time trying to find the missing mother. In fact she gets the whole town involved in finding the missing women.

This was a fun, Christmas read. I like Billie Bly and her attitude.  This is the 4th in the series, but easily read as a stand alone. Short read, but lots of spirit.

AMAZON

Review: A DAMSEL FOR SANTA : A McKENNA MYSTERY (Trouble in Paradise #7) by Terry Ambrose

Here's a Christmas cozy novella for you:

Synopsis

Not even the freak hurricane bearing down on Honolulu can dampen Wilson McKenna's holiday spirit. His girlfriend is coming to town, and they'll be celebrating their first Christmas together. Everything changes though when Chance Logan shows up and begs McKenna to help with a big charity event.

Chance wants his best friend to take the role of Santa in the Christmas play he's directing. The previous Santa claims to have malaria, and dress rehearsal is only hours away. McKenna agrees to help, but trouble strikes during rehearsal when the storm hits town. There's a city-wide power outage, the phone lines and traffic are snarled, and when the lights come on, one of the elves is dead.

When McKenna and Chance decide to investigate, the child star insists on being Santa’s helper. Now, McKenna has questions galore and no answers. Is the killer the Shakespeare-quoting Scrooge? The secretive Jack Frost? Or the way-too-friendly elf with more personalities than he can count? Should he give Assistant Elf Investigator Holly the promotion she's demanding? And what should he do about the Santa suit? It's giving him itches in places he can't even mention in public.

This year, Hawaii's best amateur sleuth has a short Christmas wish list. He wants to find a killer before the curtain comes down on this production. And, he'd kill for a sturdy backscratcher.


Review

McKenna reluctantly gives in to playing Santa in the dress rehearsal only to have to deal with a dead elf. With no power and phone lines down, he takes on the job of sleuth with the help of the child star who plays "Holly"  (the damsel) in the play.  Aside from all the quirky characters and tensions, there's something going on with the Santa Suit and McKenna is stuck.

Lots of twists and turns, the holiday spirit, and some humor along the way.  If you're up for a holiday treat that's short and sweet, you'll enjoy this novella.  Although part of a series, this is easily read as a stand alone.

AMAZON

Blog Tour & Review: MURDER AT MISTLETOE MANOR by Holly Tierney-Bedord

Blurb:

Klarinda Snow is the innkeeper of a beautiful, historic bed and breakfast in Windy Pines, Idaho. Guests come to Mistletoe Manor to escape from their troubles while enjoying the scenic mountain town.

When all seven rooms of the inn get booked on a Tuesday night in December, Klarinda is excited about having so much business, but a little confused as well. After all, her inn normally isn’t exactly a destination hotspot.

The guests have barely settled in before strange things begin happening. Is this the most accident prone group of travelers ever, or is someone out for revenge?

Review:

Klarinda is surprised and appropriately leery when her inn, Mistletoe Manor, is fully booked with no obvious connection between the reservations. It quickly becomes apparent there are at least some connections - someone invited these guests - all expenses paid - but who? Then the guest start dying. Between closed roads and accidents, the small town police are quick to call the deaths "accidents" but as the body count rises, that seems less likely.  

This is a quick read - a novella - and the story moves at a quick pace.  Like Benji in the story, from the name, I expected a little more "holiday" theme, maybe even a little mistletoe, but that's not really what the story is about. Those looking for a quick read with the suspects narrowed down as the invitees die off will enjoy this story. I liked Klarinda though there isn't a lot of history on her provided and I really hope Pumpernickel found a new home. I wouldn't mind "visiting" Windy Pines again if this turns into a series.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Buy the Book:

AmazonUS AmazonUK

About the Author: Holly Tierney-Bedord

Bio:

Holly Tierney-Bedord is the author of over a dozen books. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband Bill and their dog Tyler.

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Visit all the Tour Stops:

November 20th

Book Lover in Florida - Book Excerpt Post 

Hello...Chick Lit - Book Excerpt Post

November 21st

My Novelesque Life - Author Guest Post 

Steamy Book Momma - Book Review 

Judging More Than Just the Cover - Author Q&A

November 22nd

Reviews by Crystal - Book Excerpt Post 

Imaginary Book Club - Book Review

November 23rd

Lilac Diaries - Author Guest Post 

Thoughts on Books - Book Review 

Christa Reads and Writes - Book Review

November 24th

Jenabooks - Book Review

November 25th

Bookaholic Babe - Author Guest Post 

Appletree Books - Book Review

November 26th

Reading To Unwind - Book Review 

4TeenReaders - Author Q&A

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SPOTLIGHT: MORGAN'S MOUNTAIN (A MONTANA SERIES NOVELLA) by Krista Ames

 

Today, it's my pleasure to interview Krista Ames, author of MORGAN'S MOUNTAIN, A Montana Series Novella:

Thanks so much for having me on your blog ☺

How long have you been writing? 
Oh, I guess 8 or 9 years now, I didn’t really start writing until I moved to Florida in 2006. Believe it or not, when I was younger, I didn’t even like to read.

What inspires you to write? 
Lots of different things inspire me actually. Movies are the biggest. Just the other day I watched SWITCH (w/Jennifer Aniston & Jason Bateman) for the first time and inspiration hit me before the movie even started. It was the music and the New York skyline in the opening credits that got my wheels turning.

How long did it take you to write Morgan’s Mountain? 
I’m not even sure I know, but probably longer than I’d like. (maybe 6+ months, I know bad right?) I hope to do better in the future. I run a tour company so I get kind of busy and sidetracked ☺

If you were casting the movie for this story, who would play Morgan? Luke?
Ooh that’s a good question… there are lots of actors and actresses out there that I love. Hmmm ok for Luke, the hair color wouldn’t match but Kellan Lutz or even Josh Lucas would make a good cowboy and for Morgan…Ashley Greene or Holly Marie Combs.

How did you happen to choose Montana for your setting?
I just love Montana. Whenever I think of Montana I think of mountains and cowboys ☺ Unfortunately, I haven’t been there yet but I hope to in the next couple years.

What was your favorite scene to write? 
I think it would have to be when Luke goes out to cut wood. I liked writing the quarreling parts with my hero and heroine. Since Morgan is such a self-sufficient type of person, she is dead set on doing things herself so when he goes outside, harmlessly I might add, to cut some wood, she gets furious ☺

Who designed the book cover? 
My wonderful editor at Roane Publishing was also the cover artist! We kind of worked together on the design, I found the pics and she put it all together. She has a fantastic talent!!!

This is part of a series – is it easier to write the next one in the series or harder? Is there another one coming in this series? 
You know, I really think it’s easier, especially when you mention secondary characters in the current story. Makes me more anxious to give them their own book. And actually there is another coming in the series, probably Tyler’s story but that’s all I can say ☺

What are your favorite things to do besides writing? 
I love being a stay-at-home mom even though all my kids are now in school all day. It gives me the time to get all my mom stuff done so once the kids are home, I have time for them.

Who is your favorite author and why? 
I have lots and lots of favorites but my all-time? That would be Linda Lael Miller. She is a fantastic author and one of hers was the first romance I actually read straight through. I was hooked after that one book. I LOVE Contemporary Western and she is the queen. Of course she writes other stuff too and I like all her stuff but she’s it for me ☺

Anything else, my readers might want to know about you? 
I guess that’s about it, I don’t think I’m a very interesting person ☺ However, if anyone gets a chance to read Morgan’s Mountain, I hope you’ll look me up and tell me what you think !!

Title: Morgan’s Mountain, A Montana Series Novella

Author: Krista Ames

Publisher: Roane Publishing

Release Date: July 13, 2015

Keywords: Romance, Western, Contemporary, Series, Novella

Blurb:

On the proverbial run from another failed relationship, Morgan finds herself in the one place she always found solace. With every intention of being alone, she’s surprised when she comes across the one person she never expected.

Luke would go to the ends of the earth to figure out why Morgan ran away five years ago and make things right with her. However, a dangerous trek up the mountains to her family’s cabin might not have been the smartest choice. To say she was happy to see him would be a huge lie. Having to rescue him, mortifying for Luke.

Toss a kidnapper into the mix and their feelings for each other are brought into perspective, revealing parts of themselves they never thought would come to light.

Purchase Links:
Roane Publishing
Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Bookstrand
All Romance eBooks

Krista Ames Bio:

Born and raised in Northern Indiana, Krista now resides in Northern Lower Michigan. She is married to a very supportive man who allows her to follow her true passion of writing and never complains when she is pirated away on her computer for hours. He is excellent at bouncing ideas around with and even helps the occasional writers block. He’s also a terrific “in house” editor. Krista is also a mother of four ornery children who keep her plenty busy. With an addition of 2 beautiful chocolate lab sisters and a playful kitty, there is never a dull or spare moment in her household.

Krista has always loved to read and would often sit up for hours into the night not able to put down a book until she was finished. She still reads when she can but her main focus is creating her own stories to share with the world.

She loves to communicate with her readers so please feel free to drop her a line anytime.

Ms. Ames Links:
Email: krista@kristaames.com

Website: http://www.kristaames.com/

Blog: http://www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com

Link for Morgan’s Mountain on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25643666-morgan-s-mountain

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