On My Table and In My Cup July 2-9th

Saturday morning and a week in review from what has been on my table and in my cup. I try very hard to keep my posts up lifting and positive. It would be wrong of me not to acknowledge the deep sadness for the chaos that has occurred and the senseless loss of lives this week. It is hard to find comfort in the chaos, however I have found some words that express the feelings in this cycle of pain from my friend Patricia Neely- Dorsey and her poem Heartbreak (This Too, Shall Pass)
I cup of tea in silent remembrance and in support of an end to the trauma for all.

 So many wonderful books released this passed Tuesday and I have been thrilled to have them on my table and review them with you all here. Kay Finch's The Black Cat Knocks On Wood spent a few days on my table this week and in my lap.

I was enchanted with Laura Morrigan's Take The Monkey and Run, so much so that I can not wait to read the previous three books in the series.

Julie Hyzy's book Grace Sees Red spent the 4th with me....

The Great Catsby was a warm and cozy escape even with the fast passed mystery!

Dressed to Kilt by Hannah Reed stole my heart and was my favorite in this three book series.

Yesterday was my friend author Terrie Farley Moran's birthday  such a pleasure to have her book on my table and being able to share one of my recipes in the book! I hope you will enjoy Read to Death as much as I did and that you try my recipe in the back!
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review.
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@mail.com

Dressed To Kilt! Spend A Bit Of Your Summer In The Scottish Highlands!

I adore Hannah Reed's A Scottish Highlands Mystery Series. Book three Dressed To Kilt was spectacular and had all the warm and fuzzy feels along with a two truly great mysteries. Today is the release date and the perfect day for a winter Scottish get away! Eden Eliot main character is one I could truly relate too and her cast of amazing Scottish friends and foes made for a believable and great dynamic through out this series. I hate to give spoilers so I will only say this, my wish from the very start of book one comes true at the end of book three. This trilogy is one of my favorites and one I can honestly recommend.

" A mysterious murder that leaves the Scottish village of Glenkillen shaken and stirred... Winter is leaving the residents of Glenkillen snowbound, but Eden isn t about to let the weather dampen her spirits. With only a little time left in Scotland, she s determined to make the most of it starting with attending a fancy whisky tasting with local looker Leith Cameron. But her classy date turns into a major party foul after a woman is found drowned in one of the vats of alcohol. Eden immediately steps in as a Special Constable to help solve the case, but her investigation turns sour when she realizes that the killer could be somehow connected to her own Scottish heritage. Now, in order to find the proof she needs to put the murderer behind bars, she ll have to take a shot at unearthing her family s past before she herself winds up buried..."

If you have some time set aside for reading this summer, perhaps a weekend at the cottage, by the beach or simply can't get away this is the perfect armchair travel mystery series for you!
To order your own copy with free shipping from The Book Depository please click here.
To order and download your copy on amazon.com for your kindle please click here.
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table And In My Cup June 25th- July 2nd

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review. On my table this week I have had some amazing cozy mysteries and some fantastic cups of tea.

 Yesterday was Canada Day and I started my day with Heavenly Creme Tea (My favorite from Neverland Tea Salon) in A Royal Adderley Cup and Saucer with the pattern Maple Leaf Tartan. This is one of my most favorite little sets as it is a demi tasse. Maple Leaf Tartan was created in 1964.  I just started Dressed To Kill By Hannah Reed. I put it on my table last week but I wanted to save it having this cup and saucer in mind for Canada Day and as I so enjoy this series I thought it would be a great way to spend my holiday weekend!

If you missed it yesterday I was so excited to share the first Chapter of A Toxic Trousseau, Juliet Blackwell's 13th book in this series which comes out July 5th. This was my favorite so far in the series and I can not wait for you all to read it!

It was a paranormal themed week for cozy mysteries this week on my table and the June release of Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye Mysteries, Sense of Deception had so much to offer, suspense, fear, a couple of great mysteries and a really wonderful cast of characters.

Canadian Author Linda Wiken's new series Toasting Up Trouble spent a brief time on my table this week, the review will follow Monday!

Maggie Sefton's Purl Up and Die was also a June release that I enjoyed, even brought out my Celestial Seasoning's tea pot for my evening read!
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So many great things to talk about with A Dark and Stormy Murder, if you have yet to order this one I say run to your store, or order on line you will not want to miss this first in series!

I also am so excited and thrilled to share that Read To Death comes out July 5th! I am so thrilled with this series and delighted to have lent my recipe to Terrie for the back of the book. I do hope you will give the series and my recipes a try! I can not wait to hear what you think about both!
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table And In My Cup June 18-25th

Thanks to the UPS man I have been delivered safely 12 of the summers most anticipated reads and I am so thrilled! I have started on Terrie Farley Moran's Read To Death the third book in the Read 'Em and Eat Series. 

I am so thrilled and excited to have so many wonderful books to read! It is hard to choose which to read first through 12th! I can not wait to read them all.

This week I read Laurie Cass' Cat With A Clue, such a great series! Book five is sure to delight!

Book two of Kathi' Daley's A Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery was a great escape. I really enjoy this Island based cozy series and can not wait for the next one.

Judy Volhart's first and fabulous Whine & Cheese Cozy Mystery  Asiago and the Accomplice was really well written a great and inspiring read, I challenge you all to order and read this one this summer! Click here to find it on Amazon

In my cup all week this week I have been enjoying the new Twinings 90th Celebration tea. This afternoon tea is a blend of three commonwealth black teas and reminds me of a very high quality Darjeeling tea.  My sister in law purchased this for me and I am so grateful!
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review! I have a delightful amount of reading to do. I hope you find time to read some of these fantastic cozies too! As always I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Stay-cation Book Suggestion...Hannah Reed's Hooked On Ewe

I finished Hooked on Ewe by Hannah Reed last week and have I got a great Stay-cation Book for you! Even if you are not traveling this summer but feel like you need to get away, this is the book you have been waiting for.

Hooked on Ewe is Hannah Reed's second Scottish Highlands Mystery and it is the perfect book to read when you need a Stay-cation.

Out in July 7th Hooked on Ewe is an excellent complement to book one Off Kilter, which I read and reviewed and loved last October. I loved the cover art on book one (see below) and I think the cover art for Hooked on Ewe is outstanding and really depicts the story accurately.

The story follows main character Eden Elliott on her Scottish Highlands Writing Adventure. As she starts her new life with out her husband and recently deceased Mother, Eden finds all the inspiration she needs and all the trouble she can handle in Glenkillen Scotland.  In book two, Eden is a talented wannabee Romance writer who finds herself caught up in yet another mystery in this small Scottish town. This time however she is given the go ahead and encouragement to aid in the investigation. I was thrilled Hannah wrote this character with such care and genius. There are some wonderful friends, townsfolk and potential love interests in Eden's life and they are all as colorful as the hand dyed and spun balls of yarn found at her best Scottish Friend, Vicki's store.

Squirrel and I think that this series is the perfect stay-cation summer read.

To pre- order Hooked On Ewe (I have had my copy on order since December) From The Book Depository like I did please click here. To order the first in this series Off Kilter please click here.
*Even though I was sent the advanced reading copy of this book I still am looking forward to receiving my pre-ordered copy, I love having books with their cover art. I order from The Book Depository because I live in Canada and The Book Depository sends their books out with out delivery fees no matter how many or few books you order. Their customer service can not be beat and I love shopping on their site.

Thank you for joining me for a Cup of Tea and this Cozy Mystery. As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table And In My Cup This Week April 26- May 2nd

 

This has been a very long feeling week. Sunday was my 40th birthday and I celebrated with my husband & boys and extended family heading to our Science Center, Telus World Of Science and then to The Old Spaghetti factory in historic Gas Town. The Science Center and Lunch were fantastic and a great way to spend my birthday. I spend most of the week enjoying Paris tea from adorabelletearoom.com this black tea with currant and bergamot has moved to the number one spot on my list of black teas. I also enjoyed Serenity Now from Davids Tea thanks to my friend Daniela.

 I was thrilled that my Tea Time Magazine arrived and with it the published letter I sent in about them featuring my favorite Royal Albert Pattern

 Thank you to my friend Laine Barash for this stunning photo of my letter in Tea Time Magazine along with her own china, she and I share many similar tastes.

Inspired by her photo I tried my own version of that photo with my favorite poem by Patricia Neeley-Dorsey called Country Living. This week I baked muffins and carrot cake. I did not get to the tea time squares and bars like I had hoped to. My week had lots of "Plot Twists" to it, I hope to get to them in the coming two weeks.

We had some wonderful rain and hail showers and Squirrel the cat had the right idea about how to spend the damp and cold morning. I am still reading and loving Hooked on Ewe by Hannah Read 65 more days until this lovely 2nd book debuts.

My sister gave me a sugar bowl candle for my birthday that is Earl Grey scented and handmade by Kelly Robinson of Vintage Charm Home Decor.

It is very beautiful and a great addition to my table.

 

 I was pleased and surprised to receive and Advanced Reading Copy of Caught Read-Handed from Terrie Farley Moran and I am thrilled to have contributed the recipe included at the end of this story! I hope you will all enjoy it. 65 more days until it is released as of today as well.

 

I was able to enjoy my tea in my new tea mug from my boys that says Keep calm and Embrace on, in the Sunshine yesterday, while opening my mail. I was relieved and beyond excited that Lemon Pies and Little White Lies finally was delivered by Canada Post from The Book Depository! Canada Post seems to like to hold my pre-orders from Ellery Adams and Lucy Arlington. I am just thrilled it has arrived. To order your own copies please click here. I must remember to pick my mail man up a coffee card to thank him for constantly checking on my missing orders for me!
Thank you for taking time to join me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery this week.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table And In My Cup This Week April 19-25th

I have had a very busy week this on my table and I am so thrilled that the mail man brought me an advanced reading copy of Hooked on Ewe by Hannah Reed. I loved her first book in this new series and I am doing a happy dance to get to read it 75 plus days early! This is book along with the new Garden Tea Pot from my father are the gems on my table this week.

 It was also Mr. William Shakespeare's birthday and death day as I understand it this past week and I am amazed at the impact that his words and work still have today. The above is my cup of tea and acknowledgment of the celebration of his life. 

 

I ordered The Seafront Tea Rooms from The Book Depository recently and though not a cozy was drawn to the book by the cover and the title and I am looking forward to reading this one. 

I also had a selection of my tea and recipe books out this week. As well as my very soggy cat, one of my sons tried to "help her get over her fear of water" by attempting to bathe her Thursday night. New rule in the house no trying to Baptize or Convert the cat...

Searching for the perfect square recipe to try out next week I laid out a few favorite cookbooks

I shall share that recipe with you one I find exactly what I was looking for.

 In my cup this week I found a heart. A young friend of mine named Ahmie who is 15 is battling cancer, I think about Ahmie, her mother and young sister and light a candle each morning. In their updates it is clear that Ahmie's hospice care is filling their days and through it all the family continues to live more in one day then most of us do in our life times.

If you would like to learn more about Ahmie and her family please visit Operation Love For Ahmie by clicking here.
So do share with me what was on your table and in your cup this week?
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery.
As  with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

First In A New Series, Off Kilter, Hannah Reed's Newest Series Is A Wonderful Adventure.

Oh what a wonderful read! I just finished Hannah Reed's newest book Off Kilter. What a fantastic way to spend the weekend. This is the perfect weekend get away book. Once I started Off Kilter I really hated to put it down. I was hooked from the dedication and drawn in.

Eden Elliot the main character is really likeable and I related easily to her. Seeing the Scottish Highlands through her eyes and getting to know the  reluctant towns folk through the story was so enjoyable. I loved the story and how the mystery unraveled. Hannah kept me guessing until the end.  As a tea lover I really enjoyed the tea references in the book and how Eden learns to make a proper pot of tea!

 

I can not wait until the next book in this series to come out. I have never wanted to visit Scotland more! After reading Hannah's book I think I just moved Scotland up on my travel wish list. 

Hannah Reed is a truly inspiring writer and this series is one you are going to want to pick up.

You can find out more about Hannah Reed and her books by clicking here. 

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com