Here we are last Saturday of 2017 already. What a week this has been, never really sure what day it is, checking the calendar as I went to be sure then cross checking it with the phone and computer. I hope I am not alone in this. What a week for sure. I have survived Christmas, entertained family, had dental surgery, continued running my 24/7 event on Beyond The Bookmarks and somehow managed to even find, make that make time to read this week.
I finished the Free cozy Bakeries & Bones by Nic Roberts Friday afternoon, will be sharing my review tomorrow. A cozy short mystery you are going to enjoy I know so if you can download it and read it now!
This week I read and reviewed Dial M for Mousse, which is from a series I very much enjoyed by Laura Bradford. This one is out January 2nd...
On my table a new teacup, saucer and spoon I was given as a gift on Christmas Eve from a friend, my niece LB loved it so much and was the first to point it out at Christmas dinner, I think I should let her enjoy it next tea party.
Christmas Eve as a different one for us this year, filled with plot twists, with highs and lows. Sick parents, friends and with all my boys in on the True aspect of Christmas giving and elfing, the stress I normally faced every 8 pm on Christmas Eve fully dissipated and I am pleased to say we still managed to capture that true magic of Christmas, on Christmas morning.
See me, Christmas Eve just before bed, cold but happy and we had a white Christmas here, which I feel as though I can count on one hand the amount of times that has happened in my adult life.
My absolutely stunning tree is still up, which for me is not normal, usually I have it down Boxing Day or even as early as Christmas Day in years past. This year however my wonderful mother in law lent us her amazing tree and my very talented sister in law decorated the tree for us and it is as close to perfection as I think possible. I have so enjoyed it and this year for the first time in years I am really going to miss it when it is gone. Truly felt like a season of many blessings and felt as though we had lots of support and love from our family and community. Maybe not the best Christmas we ever had but certainly one of the most enjoyable in years. Not stress free, but learning to embrace the Holiday Plot Twists made getting through those stressful moments not turn into a stressful season. Let's just say it was Blessedly Stressed, not overwhelming this year.
In my cup this week I have had so many wonderful different types of teas. Mostly black teas, though I have learned to love my Strawberry Matcha Tea mixed with Orange Juice and I will tell you that I feel like I have more energy throughout the day when I drink it, perhaps it is all just in my head but either way I am grateful.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to join me these last 52 Saturdays for a lookback at what has been on my table and in my cup. I treasure the relationships I have made, the connections with authors, readers and so many people I now call friends because of the books I read and the teas I enjoy. Thank you for joining me here. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com
Last night I finished Dial M for Mousse by Laura Bradford this is the 3rd book in the Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery series. There is something really special in the relationships that Laura writes and the importance she assigns her characters. I love that her characters are not all in their 30's. I appreciate that those who are "north of 75", play a major role not only in the book but in the day to day lives of the characters. While I find the idea of the dessert squad fun, I love the cozy even more for the relationships than the desserts, which is saying a lot as the desserts are very smart and sound fantastic. It is wonderful to see that life goes on and evolves for everyone and that the curious mind doesn't rest and is valuable at any age. This one is out January 2nd and has moments that make you laugh and make you want to cry a happy tear or two. This is a lovely series that will leave you with that cozy feeling and hope in your heart.
Another week has flown by in the blink of an eye. I am more busy now than ever before and I am so thankful for the time to do what I do! I get up much earlier then my family so that I may have time to share my passion for reading and enjoy a pot of tea or two before my full day of work begins. Dragging myself to bed when the sun is still high in the sky and the boys are unwilling to drift off to sleep makes for long days but I love it. This weekend i am starting to read Kate Kingsbury's Doom with a View, this one is out in several weeks time and one I have been looking forward to reading. With summer, ghost stories go hand in hand.
I announced earlier this week a collaborative project with author Jayne Barnard! I am so excited about this cup coming Facebook event and I have so many fun things planned to share during the party. I would be so honored to have you join us for a few hours on Wednesday July 26th. The Maddie Hatter series is one I discovered in May with the purchase of my first book in the series, and I just finished book two (will be sharing the review tomorrow) and it is a series I am so excited about. I am dreaming of clockwork birds, chickens and zeppelins! My creative brain has been spinning and I have some fun crafts to share. If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt or special friend of a young reader (I am 42 and this series I personally love) I recommend the adventure mystery series of Maddie Hatter !
I have exciting crafts, fun facts, prizes and more to share at the party don't miss it!
Paranormal cozy mysteries have a special place in my heart as many of you know. I read Ghost of a Chance by Cate Dean this week and absolutely loved it, it was exactly the story I needed at the time and lovely as well as light. I could love to read the series!
Out of my comfort zone I read a suspense thriller that is up coming by Kathleen Valenti, this one is a very good mystery and will keep you on the edge of your seat, not a cozy to be sure but it does have a happy ending.
Sunday I reviewed Cat About Town by Cate Conte, this one is out in September and has a lovely feel to it, a great cat, small town and new business, this is a series I hope that will be long running, who doesn't love a cat cafe?
I also shared a bit on Monday in our Three Amigos Book Club post my choice for this weeks book or series and I chose Janice J. Richardson's series. Set in Niagara Falls and centered around a funeral home, this series amazed me with how calm and serene I felt while reading it even though the trauma of death and funerals is something that I struggle with, I came away from reading both books with an undeniable sense of comfort. I hope you will too!
I discovered something I had no idea about when I was picking up my supply of Murchie's tea this week, they offer something called Purple Majesty, a PURPLE TEA that steeps purple! I must get this tea to try! It is a rare one but stay tuned as I give this one a try!
A special thank you to Author Laura Bradford for spending some time with us yesterday, I am quite honored she could spend some time with us this week during her busy tour!
Below is my Friday Spotlight Youtube video, I would love to have you pop over and watch under a minute! I have 9 subscribers and would love to make it a dozen as I build my new channel and step out of my comfort zone of being on camera!
Thank you all for joining me here this week for a look back at what I have had on my table this week!
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com
Today I am sharing a cup of tea and a cozy chat with Author Laura Bradford. Today we chat about her second in series by called 30 Second Death.
This book is out in a few days and is the second in the Tobi Tobias Mystery Series. Here is a bit from our interview earlier this week....
KMOT: When you are writing what sustains you, Coffee, Tea or something Else?
LB: Chocolate! Heavy amounts of Chocolate....
KMOT: How long is the writing process for you, do you take breaks between them, or are you constantly writing?
LB: The writing process is several months long for each book. I go from book to book (across series) so I'm always writing. But I'm actually taking this summer off for the first time in a decade and I'm so excited about it!
KMOT: What as the inspiration for your setting?
LB: The setting of 30 Second Death is St. Louis, where I lived for 17 years. And as far as the advertising backdrop, I've always been interested in jingles and commercials.
KMOT: Do you love Theater and if so what is your favorite play?
LB: My oldest daughter is an actress so I see plays with her all the time. My favorite Broadway musical was Anything Goes.
KMOT: What would you like my readers to know about the Tobi Tobias Mystery Series?
LB: The Tobi Tobias Mysteries are fun--laugh out loud fun at times. Yes, there's murder, but there's also a cast of characters that are very relatable. So if you're looking for a fun mystery, these are definitely worth checking out.
This week has flown by and officially we are on Spring Break, however we do have hockey today. I have Hospitality and Homicide to finish today from Lynn Cahoon, this one is out in May and I am delighted to be almost done reading it so early!
Quite a lot of reading done this week actually this was the 44th book I have read and reviewed so far this year. I love the characters and relationships in this series.
Laura Childs Pekoe Most Poison matched beautifully with my napkin rings and spring tea cup. I love it when things work out. Great mystery too, no idea how she does it! Book 18 and it is out now.
Barbecue, Bourbon and Bullets by M.E. Harmon was a free cozy short I read this week. A good story, great mystery and a great deal, free at time of posting.
Another cozy short I read this week was the third book THe Ghost Wishperer by Charity Tahmaseb. Great paranormal cozy short. I can not wait to read the next one.
Oh Sid, such a treat to have a Sid mystery to read. I am thrilled there are going to be more of this series by Leigh Perry. There is just something so wonderful about this family skeleton that makes you want to read more!
I also enjoyed having the Book of Tea and Company, cook book and book of daily reflections from The Irish Country Womens's Association. This is a beautiful book and one I am so thrilled I ordered.
I am also thrilled to share a review with you tomorrow of Kylie Logan's Gone With The Twins. I am so thankful to have had so many wonderful books to read this week and share with all of you.
Thank you for taking time to stop by 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
Earlier this week I received a copy of the second book in the Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery Series by Laura Bradford, called The Silence of the Flans. I really like main character Winnie and I especially love her neighbor Mr. Nelson. The dynamic of their relationship is what I enjoy most in this series. I found it difficult to figure out who the murder truly was and their motive in this book, I was truly surprised in the end when both were reveled. I was caught up in the side story of the relationships Winnie has with each character, even though I knew it was all centered around the murder, it was the relationships I took most from in this story. I am looking forward to reading book three for sure.
I have been blessed this week with great reads and great friends. On my table and in my life, kindness has surrounded me. Yesterday I was surprised by some amazing ladies with holiday gifts that were absolute surprises and delightful ones at that. Saffron tea from Iran, a beautiful friendship teaspoon, handmade coasters, chocolates and a bath balm treat I am so looking forward to using.
I have had fantastic books to read this week. I was thrilled when my copy of Locking Up Santa arrived from Nikki LeClair! Fantastic holiday read and out now!
Laura Bradford's February release Death In Advertising was a great first in series and a cast of characters I loved, I hope you will too. Mark your calender's for this release!
Not normally one in my mind for historical books but this book had me looking at historical cozies in a whole new way. Funny, exciting and completely cozy this Mail Order Bride mystery by J.v.L Bell was completely fun.
Kathi Daley and her Whales and Tails Mystery The Cat of Christmas Present was so good I was balling at the end. Heartwarming, story of overcoming adversity, family and a little holiday magic made this a great read, out now and worth downloading to your kindle app, grabbing a blanket and a pot of tea and escaping for the day.
Fudge & Jury by Ellie Alexander a delightful and delectable series, fun, foodie themed mystery and the best mother/daughter relationship going! Be sure to order this one as well!
Friday I had Erma Bombeck on my table, one of my favorites. A great lady who wrote about life in away only a mother could truly appreciate, relate too and rejoice in. Even now more then 40 years after this book was published I found myself laughing and crying. Not a mystery, or a how too book but a cozy feeling read for sure.
If you are wondering did I really read 5 cozies this week the truth is yes I really did, I also squeezed in two non cozy books to share reviews of shortly as well. No I have no idea how I did it either, other then to say, great writers make reading that much easier. Using words, settings and themes that are too hard to put down and irresistible truly helps as well. Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea, a cozy mystery 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
What a treat to read Laura Bradford's new first in series, February 7th's release called Death in Advertising. Laura is a wonderful author, and this is a great series idea. I loved the quirky main character Tobi Tobias. She is a coco puff cereal loving, Mcdonald's eating, slightly down on her luck completely relate able character. Creative, kind, and learning to make her way on her own in business. She is not only relate-able she is inspiring. Great cast of supporting characters especially her Grandfather and young photographer friend. I really enjoyed this story, mystery and getting to know Tobi and the crew. I look forward to more books in this series for sure.
Snow at Sea Level, sounds like a great book right, let me write it and I will share it with you. Early morning snow where I live that is actually sticking to the ground is rare here in Vancouver. While I live in Canada I live in the part that usually is free of the white stuff, cold and chaos that comes with it. But this morning in the early morning hours children everywhere here are waking up to what we think is a dusting of snow and to them a blizzard.
This is the front yard of our current home at 6 am, I have two cats and an almost 9 year old with his nose pressed to the window imagining the snowman he plans on building. Sad truth is that most of this will be gone by dinner time. So my thoughts turn to up coming releases, as I do not currently have a cozy on the go to read, here are three I am looking forward to reading and thought I would share with you!
The next Kensington release I am looking at comes out in December, Custom Baked Murder looks great too! The cover is outstanding! I don't know Liz Mugavero but this one is one I am looking forward to reading!
We are in a sea of snow and boxes today, having the boys help pack their rooms has been a great challenge, now to have the snow let up so we can drop some boxes at the new place later today.
I hope you have a wonderful Monday. Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and some up coming cozy mysteries. As with all my posts I would love to hear from you. please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com
