"Murder at the Courthouse" by Meghan Carver ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Tours)

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Murder at the Courthouse by Meghan Carver, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Murder at the Courthouse
Series: Grace Pointe Cozy Mystery #1
Author: Meghan Carver
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: October 28, 2019

The first book in the Grace Pointe Cozy Mystery Series!

“Fiction is a waste of time.”

The heated comment made by a church library ministry team member shocks MacKenzie Baker, but it quickly becomes the least of her worries. 

MacKenzie Baker is an impetuous, eavesdropping small-town librarian who lives in the apartment above the parsonage garage and refuses to be defined as the pastor’s single sister. She thought she was happy for years re-shelving books and helping patrons find their next great read, but as she turns forty, she suddenly struggles to figure out what more to do with her life. Solving murders in her small town of Grace Pointe wasn’t a part of her plan...until she and her brother find a local judge who had come to Pastor Baker for counseling murdered in his chambers, hit over the head with a massive volume of the Indiana Code.

Now, to clear the name of a family friend, she begins to work with the handsome criminal justice professor Ian Canter. Even though the detective with the chocolate brown eyes tells her to stick with making casseroles for the church pitch-in, she soon discovers the Judge’s scheming wife, his rebellious teen daughter, a network of lawyers in Grace Point who were disgruntled with the Judge, and even secrets that lurk among the library ministry team. But with the help of her new kitten Mr. Darcy, her best friend Callie, and her always-pastoring brother, MacKenzie debates the pros and cons of attending law school mid-life while she searches out a killer.

Welcome to Grace Pointe… where most of the people are friendly, the church is to die for, and the sleuthing is as strong as the coffee.

EXCERPT

She was expected to live life today, not hide from it, although she would definitely be more careful not to spill coffee down her front like she had last week when she had had to finish a few hours of work with a large brown stain down the front of her light blue shirt. She took a deep breath and summoned up some blessings, running through a list she tried to keep prepared in her mind.

Life could be worse. A lot worse.

But things could also be better. A lot better.

How, she wasn’t sure yet.” 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

By sixth grade, Meghan Carver knew she wanted to write. After earning a degree in English from Millikin University, she detoured to law school, earning a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University. She then worked in immigration law and taught Comp 101 at the local college. Now, she homeschools her six children with her college professor husband, writing her stories of cozy mystery and romantic suspense in the nooks and crannies of her time. Her debut novel hit the Publisher's Weekly Bestseller list. When she isn't writing, homeschooling, or planning the family's next travel adventure, she is active in her church, sews for her kidlets, and reads.

CONNECT WITH MEGHAN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a Cozy Mystery Prize Pack including a “I’d rather be reading a cozy mystery” tee-shirt – size and color to be determined by winner, a signed paperback of Murder at the Courthouse, and $10 Amazon gift card!

(Tee Sizes: small – xxx-large, colors: white, red, gray, pink, or green)

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 14, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on January 21, 2020. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

 

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

"The Sleuth's Conundrum" by Kimberly Rose Johnson ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Tours)

Welcome to the Blog Blitz and Giveaway for The Sleuth's Conundrum by Kimberly Rose Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 
Title: The Sleuth's Conundrum
Series: The Librarian Sleuth #3  
Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink  
Genre: Cozy Mystery  
Release Date: November 1, 2019  

Adam and Tara are sucked into a police investigation that might get Tara killed. Can Adam keep her safe or will he lose her forever?

Tara James, the local librarian assistant, is afraid her past will catch up to her when an infant is abandoned outside the Tipton County Library. Will news of the abandoned baby stir up publicity and force her to go on the run again?

Librarian Nancy Daley’s world has become complicated. Carter is pushing to set a wedding date, a woman was left for dead on the side of the road, and Tara, her assistant, is acting strange. Nancy is working every angle she can think of, but the case goes from bad to bizarre. Can she find the baby’s mother, help Tara, and plan her wedding without upsetting her life’s delicate balance?

Slow news days become a thing of the past for local reporter Adam Stacy when a dead body is discovered on the side of the road. Was the woman murdered or was it an accident? Adam’s feelings are growing for Tara, but she appears to have secrets she’s hiding. Is she somehow connected to the abandoned infant?

When things go from bad to worse Adam does everything in his power to protect Tara, but will it be enough?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

EXCERPT

Thunder boomed and rattled the windows. Tara jumped—she hated storms. “I don’t

remember the last time we had thunder like that.” She crossed her arms. “Who would abandon a helpless baby on a day like today?” Tara looked down at the infant and her heart melted. She squatted and unhooked the safety restraint. “How long was the power out?”

“Thirty minutes tops. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Nancy moved around her desk and powered on her computer. “I’ll pull up the security footage while I get my mom on the phone.”

Nancy’s mother was the local sheriff, so it made sense that she would call her directly rather than 911. “And I’ll see if she needs a diaper change. Do you think she’s hungry?”

Nancy shrugged. She had her phone to her ear.

Tara lifted the light-as-a-feather baby from the carrier and cradled her. “Shh. It’s going to be okay.” 

The baby quieted and snuggled against her. Her heart melted. Sudden tears burned her eyes. She blinked them away.

Tara knew little about babies, but how hard could changing a diaper be? She peaked inside the diaper bag and spotted an envelope. “What do we have here?” She reached for it then drew out the single sheet of paper.

“This is Amelia. She’s a week old. I wish I could keep her but my circumstances won’t allow it. Please love her for me and take good care of her.” Clearly her mom cared deeply for her so why leave her baby at the library?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. You can sign up for Kimberly's newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/  

CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card!

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight November 11, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm November 18, 2019. Open internationally as long as winner can accept gift card from US Amazon. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

"The Sleuth's Dilemma" by Kimberly Rose Johnson ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Tours)

Welcome to the Blog Blitz and Giveaway for The Sleuth's Dilemma by Kimberly Rose Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Sleuth's Dilemma
Series: The Librarian Sleuth #2  
Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson  
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink  
Genre: Cozy Mystery  
Release Date: February 1, 2019  

Anna loves her job as a high school English teacher until everything goes sideways. The one bright spot in her life is Titus Gains, the school counselor, who is there for her at every turn.

Titus’ boss complicates his ordered world when she tasks him with running a meeting that changes everything. How had he not noticed Anna earlier? Someone is out to destroy her, and he can’t let that happen.

As the head of the English department, part of Luke Harms’ job is to make sure everything runs smoothly. Things went haywire when Anna was put in charge of the big writing contest. Entries are missing, Anna appears to be in danger, and her job is on the line. Luke is investigating and wants to make things right for this woman he’s starting to care about.

Can a trio of school officials along with Nancy Daley, the town sleuth, stop the saboteur before it’s too late? And will Anna choose the right man, or lose them both?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance and romantic mystery that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

You can sign up for Kimberly's newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/  

CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win:

• $15 Amazon gift card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 26, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 2, 2019. Open internationally as long as winner can accept gift card from US Amazon. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

"Assaulted Caramel" by Amanda Flower ... and a GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the release of her latest book, Amanda has graciously offered to give away an Amish-made pot holder (see below) (US ONLY). To enter, see the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends September 8, 2017.) If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information. Good luck!

Excerpt...

"I still can't believe you left!"  Cassandra Calbera shouted into my ear. "They're making the announcement Monday. You have to be here!"

I held the phone away from my face and imagined my best friend standing in the middle of Jean Pierre's test kitchen in the back of JP Chocolates in Midtown, New York. She'd be in her chef whites and have her short, purple and black hair pinned behind her ears to keep it out of her eyes. I prayed that she was alone, considering the direction of our conversation. The fewer people who knew I'd left the city, the better.

While Cass continued to tell me all the reasons why I should immediately return to New York, I parked in the first spot I could find on Apple Street, which ran perpendicular to Main Street. Apple trees lined either side of the narrow lane. In the spring, they look like flowering white torches marching up the road, forming a beautiful canopy. When I was a little girl, I had asked my grandfather why the apple trees never had any apples. He replied that the English residents of the village didn't like the apples because they made a mess on the street and sidewalk, so the Englishers made the trees sterile. At the age of five, I had no idea what sterile meant, but it sounded bad. "It is the English way," he had said. "To change what Gott created into something more convenient."

This late in September, the tree's leaves had turned yellow-gold, and a few fell to the sidewalk in the breeze that rolled over the green hills surrounding the village.

"Bai, are you listening to me?" Cass demanded.

I took a deep breath. "I explained to Jean Pierre before I left. This is a family emergency. My grandfather is sick. Jean Pierre understood. Besides, it's only Thursday. I'll be home in time for the announcement on Monday morning."

"Jean Pierre might understand, but the selection committee will not. They're looking for any excuse to give that skunk Caden the head chocolatier job. Just because he's French, and they think it goes better with the brand of Jean Pierre's empire. Do you think I should run the mob just because I'm Italian?"

"You probably wouldn't be bad at it."

"First of all, that comment is both flattering and insulting. Second, you're completely missing my point."

"What would that be?" I asked, rubbing my forehead and staring out the windshield of the rental car I had picked up at the tiny Akron-Canton Airport. There hadn't been much selection, and the inside of the car smelled faintly of stale cigarettes. The smell was giving me a headache. As I stared out the window, an Amish buggy clopped down the cross street. Inside, an Amish man with a long dark beard chatted with the Amish boy in the passenger seat. The boy was laughing. I couldn't be farther from Midtown if I tried.

My review...

Chocolatier Bailey King is in line for a promotion at the world-famous JP Chocolates in New York City. Her plans change when she learns of her grandfather’s failing health, causing her to head to Ohio. She learns that local developer Tyson Colton wants to buy her grandparents’ shop, Swissmen Sweets, an Amish candy shop. When Tyson turns up dead at the shop, Bailey’s grandpa becomes a prime suspect, and Bailey is determined to prove his innocence. That may prove to be a stickier challenge than she anticipated.

I love cozy mysteries, and this one is no exception. It’s the first installment in the “Amish Candy Shop Mystery” series. Flower has crafted a story with a charming setting (Amish country) and truly enjoyable characters…including a potbelly pig! Bailey’s questions about her purpose, job, and relationships will likely resonate with many readers. An excerpt from the next book in the series, as well as a yummy recipe for Salted Caramel Fudge, is included.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I was not required to leave a positive review. Opinions expressed are my own.

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/

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"Prose and Cons" by Amanda Flower ... and a GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the release of her latest book, Amanda has graciously offered to give away a copy of the first book in the series, "Crime and Poetry" (US ONLY). To enter, see the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends December 9, 2016.) If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information. Good luck!

Q&A with Amanda...

Q:  Your cozy mystery series uses poetry. How did you choose the poets/poems to use?
A:   In Crime and Poetry, I settled on Emily Dickinson's work as the poems I would use to solve the crime. Even before I started writing Prose and Cons, I knew I wanted to use a 19th century American writer. Who is a better writer to choose for a mystery set close to Halloween and Edgar Allen Pope? I knew he was a perfect fit.

Q:  How much research is involved in writing your cozy mysteries?
A:  I do the most research for my novels for the first book in a series because that's the time that I am establishing the setting and the characters. I want to know everything I can about the places and people I create. I know much more about them than ever appears in the final version of the novel, but it's important to me to have a good understanding of the places and people in order to tell a good story. As a series goes on and I know these places and people like the back of my hand, my research is much more specialized. I might spend hours looking for one tiny detail or I might just spend a few seconds Googling something for a random fact. However, in both cases, my favorite way to research is to go to places I'm writing about or ask someone who has knowledge and/or experience with what I am writing about. Having first-person experience is very important to me as an author.

Q:  Do you get your ideas from any real-life people or situations?
A:  Always. Every single day. Everything in my life is book fodder, just ask those closest to me. I change the names and adapt situations. For better or worse, much of my life is cozy mystery like — minus the dead bodies — so I have a lot of material with which to work.

Q:  How long does it generally take you to write a book?
A:  Because of my deadlines, I write a new novel every two to three months.

Q:  What can you tell me about your next project?
A:  I'm currently writing a novel that will release in 2018. It's the second book in my Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series coming out with Kensington. It's the second book in the series. The first book, Assaulted Caramel, releases in September 2017, and it's about a New York City chocolatier who returns to Ohio to visit her Amish grandparents, only to be tangled up in a small-town murder.

Q:  That sounds like a good book! I look forward to reading it.
A:  Thanks.  I would also like to share the following information with your readers. When they buy a mystery, they can help feed a community! Purchase any edition of Prose and Cons between now and Tuesday, December 20, 2016, and I will  donate $1 for every book sold to a food pantry, The Landing, located in Akron, Ohio. The Learned Owl is also making a $1 donation to The Landing for every copy the bookstores sells and is selling personalized and signed copies of the novel. They can ship anywhere.

Q:  That's wonderful! Think so much for doing that in sharing information with my readers. This is a wonderful book, and I hope they pick up a copy and donate to this worthy cause. Thanks for stopping by. I'm sure my readers enjoyed learning a bit more about you and your latest release.

My review...

Violet Waverly is helping her grandma Daisy run Charming Books in Cascade Springs, NY. The store is unique in that the patrons don’t choose the books. The books choose the patrons. Violet and Daisy are gearing up for the local Food and Wine Festival, as well as hosting the Red Inkers, a local writing group, who are planning a Poe-try reading, which will feature poems by Edgar Allan Poe. The last thing Violet expects is to find one of the members of the group dead on-site. Violet knows she must work quickly to solve the murder. She is concerned about how it will affect the bookstore, as the town is preparing for an influx of visitors for the festival. She will need to enlist the help of Faulkner (a crow), Emerson (a cat), Police Chief David Rainwater, and Mayor Nathan Morton (who broke her heart when she was 17). What secrets will Violet uncover along the way, and how well they impact the store? What part will Poe’s works play in the case?

It is such a joy to read the second book in Flower’s “Magical Bookshop Mystery” series. Flower has the ability to transport the reader to an imaginative and wonderful world. The quaint setting is perfect for this cozy mystery, which is complete with charming characters and scenery, as well as a solid mystery. The perfect blend of suspense and comical scenes makes it difficult to put this book down. I truly enjoy the author’s play on words, too. There are a few unique twists, including the method of murder, along the way. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I was not required to write a review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon link for purchase...

http://amzn.to/2fFOI2S

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"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...

http://amzn.to/2bwohJc

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/

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