Friday, August 26, 2016

"Crime and Poetry" by Amanda Flower...and a GIVEAWAY!


 


Amanda has graciously offered to give away a copy of the book (US ONLY). To enter, see the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends September 2, 2016.) If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information. Good luck!



A word from Amanda...

At the end of 2014, my editor at Penguin Random House expressed an interest in doing another mystery series with me. I had been writing the "Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries" for them since 2011 under the name Isabella Alan. She said the new series could be under my real name, so even though I was under contract to write for two other publishers, I jumped at the chance. I pitched her several ideas and even wrote a partial with one of those ideas. She said she loved my writing, but she wanted a magical bookshop theme to the book. I said I was willing to make that happen. I wrote three chapters and the series was sold.

Q & A with Amanda...

Q:  What would you be doing if you were not an author?
A:   Working as a librarian like I am. If I wasn't writing or doing my librarian thing, I'd most likely be traveling and possibly be a travel writer. I love to travel and have been to so many beautiful places. I'd love to share those adventures.

Q:   What do you consider the hardest part about being a writer?
A:   Lack of time. I never feel like I have enough time to get done everything that I must get done. I have the extra challenge of being a full-time librarian as well as being a full-time author.

Q:   What advice do you have for new authors?
A:   Don't give up. My analogy of getting published is beating your head on a closed door over and over and over again. Eventually the door will open enough for you to get your foot in there. When your foot is in the room you will be golden, because it's your chance to show them what you can do.

Q:   What can you tell me about your next project?
A:   My next novel to release is Prose and Cons, which is the sequel to Crime and Poetry. This time, Violet uses the works of Edgar Alan Poe to help her solve the murder. It's great fun, and I hope readers will love it as much as they did the first book. It releases on December 6, 2016.

Q:   I'll have to check that one out! What's something that would surprise your readers?
A:   I've always secretly wanted to work at Starbucks. I think it would be fun because you get to meet so many people, and they have coffee  :)


My review...

Violet Waverley is headed back to Cascade Springs for the first time in twelve years. Grandma Daisy told her she was in ill health and asked her to come home. However, when Violet arrives, it is apparent that she has been tricked. Daisy runs a magical bookstore, Charming Books, and she hopes to convince Violet to stay and become the next caretaker of the store. Violet, on the other hand, plans to return to Chicago as soon as possible. However, things take a turn when Violet discovers a dead man near the shop. The victim turns out to be Benedict Raisin, who was quite close to Daisy. Violet decides to extend her stay when her grandma becomes a suspect in Benedict’s murder. Daisy tells Violet to listen to the books in the store, as they will lead her to the killer. Is it possible that there is something magical about the books, or is Grandma Daisy losing her mind? And just how are Emily Dickinson poems connected to the case?

This is the first installment in a new series by Flower, who is also known for her Amish mysteries (written under the name Isabella Alan). It is a delightful mystery with well-crafted characters, human and animal. While there are clues along the way, the conclusion is a bit of a surprise. I enjoyed the use of Emily Dickinson poems throughout the story, which added an extra element to the mystery. The small town of Cascade Springs is the perfect location for this appropriately paced magical tale. As a book lover, I wish I could visit Charming Books, as Flower’s tale confirms that books truly are magical. This is a fun, quick cozy mystery which quickly engages the reader and keeps them guessing throughout. It was the first book I have read by Amanda Flower, but it will certainly not be my last.

Amazon link for purchase...

About Amanda...


Amanda Flower, a national bestselling and Agatha Award winning mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she 'd found her calling of making people laugh with her words. She also writes mysteries as USA Today bestselling author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is a librarian in Northeast Ohio.

Readers can find Amanda online at:

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/authoramandaflower
Twitter:       twitter.com/aflowerwriter
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/amandaflowerauthor/

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    20 comments:

    1. This sounds really interesting. I've been wanting to change up my reading material for a while so this may be the push to do it! Thanks for sharing!

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      1. Thanks for stopping by, Courtney.

        I really think you'd enjoy this book. Good luck!

        What do you usually read? If you check out other books on my blog, you may find some new genres to explore, as well as some new-to-you authors :)

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    2. This book sounds really good! I will need to look it up.

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      1. Taylor,

        It certainly is! Good luck.

        You may want to check out some of Amanda's other books, as well.

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    3. This book sounds great & I love that the sequel will be using Poe books in it to solve the crime. I love Poe!!

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      1. Amanda,

        I know! I'm looking forward to the sequel, too. If it's anything like this one, I will love it.

        Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

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    4. I love cozy mysteries! Just enough mystery and romance to keep you wanting more!

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      1. Carole,

        Thanks for visiting my blog.

        Yes, that is one of the reasons I enjoy cozy mysteries,too :)

        Good luck!

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    5. Replies
      1. Kim,

        I agree. They're some of my favorite books to read.

        Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

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    6. I enjoy cozy mysteries because it's like having visits with friends who have way more interesting lives than I do!

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      1. I love that! It's definitely true, too. Don't you just wish you could jump into some books? As it centers around a bookstore, this one would be near the top of my list!

        Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

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    7. This sounds so good and is a new author for me to read I would love to read and review a print copy! peggy clayton ptclayton2@aol.com

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      1. Welcome, Peggy!

        This was a new author for me, too. However, I'm definitely going to check out more of her books, and I'm really excited about the sequel!

        Good luck, and thanks for stopping by my blog!

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    8. I enjoy cozy mysteries because they are so much fun. They make a light read.

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      1. Virginia,

        So true! Sometimes it's nice to have a fun, quick, light read.

        Good luck!

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    9. I've only read a few cozy mysteries, but what I enjoyed the most about them is they don't contain the kind of language I'd rather not read, bedroom scenes that don't really need to be in a book & the lack of violence. It's a good clean mystery the way they should be....to solve a case :-) And I just adore the quirky characters and book titles that are a play on words.

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      1. Trixi,

        Those are some of the reasons I enjoy them, too. I also love trying to follow the clues and figure things out along with the characters. These books often remind me of the show "Murder She Wrote," which I just adore! I never thought about it, but you're right. Many cozy mysteries do have a wonderful play on words with the titles.

        Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

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      2. Murder She Wrote was one of my favorite shows too, I sometimes catch it on TV but not often! Along with Matlock & Diagnosis Murder :-)

        I think the funnest cozy series I read a while back, took place in tea shops. The one title I remember is "Death By Darjeeling"; each title had some kind of play on various tea flavors...lol!

        There's a Christian author (A.H. Gabhart) who writes cozies as well and I had won of hers entitled "Murder Comes by Mail" which is the second of the series. Her first one is "Murder at the Courthouse". Though not labeled as Christian fiction, they are clean reads. My husband read and enjoyed the book I had won so I know it's going to be good :-)

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      3. Oh, yes, I enjoyed Matlock and Diagnosis Murder, too. I can still find them on cable occasionally. Monk is another one I enjoy.

        The two books you mentioned sound good, so I'll have to check them out. Thanks!

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