On My Table and In My Cup July 30- August 6th

Saturday morning and what a busy week it has been. I have been able to read some great mysteries this week, one book about writing and a cook book. It has been a wonderful and busy week here on my table. I treated my self to some wonderful mint and chocolate scented tea with Steeped Tea's After Eight tea. It was indulgent like the wonderful chocolates themselves and satisfying as an after dinner tea. Arriving Thursday on my table was A Grave Prediction by Victoria Laurie and Bailey Cates Spells and Scones.

This month I am taking an on line course in writing called Discover Your Writing Self and I am so enjoying it. One of the books I found very informative and helpful was Writing Day In and Day Out by Andi Cumbo-Floyd, there was some very practical and helpful advice along with some truly motivating passages. You can find this book on Amazon by clicking here.

Karen MacInerne kindly sent her newsletter subscribers her The Gray Whale Inn Kitchen  tomorrow I plan on making the Peach Sunrise Coffee Cake you can find The Gray Whale Inn Kitchen by clicking here. 

Thursday I finished The Witch Who Couldn't Spell by Katie Penryn, A British Paranormal Cozy I will share a review of Sunday.

This week thanks to my library,  I read A Tigers Tale by Laura Morrigan, I loved it. The story is a good one and it was a delightful read and mystery.

Out now a new first in series by CeeCee James this was a fun cozy and one I quite enjoyed. I loved the cover as much as the story. This book is available now.

Vickie Fee's 2nd in her Liv and Di series comes out in September and this was a great book, good cozy and easy to get into. If you have yet to read this series pick up the first book  for $1.99 right now on kindle! Death Crashes the Party and pre order It's Your Party Die If You Want Too for September! You will be glad you did.

Victoria Hamilton/Amanda Cooper sent me this wonderful tea spoon for my collection. This Skull Spoon works perfectly and photographs even better with my afternoon tea and a great cozy series, The Teapot Collector Mystery Series!

On my table this week I am pleased to share a new to me tea cup my father's friend Janice gave him to give to me. This Royal Albert stunner is from the portrait series and has been a delight to use this week on my table. Fun fact I use around 4-6 teacups and saucer sets a day, lots of hand washing! I don't consider myself a collector as I actually use my teacups, I do not treat them as  trophies but as beautiful vessels delivering liquid sanity in the sea of chaos that life can bring.

Finally today I would like to thank you all who entered to win a copy of Leann Sweeney's The Cat, The Collector and the Killer. The winner is :

Robin Coxon! Congratulations and a copy will be sent to you from the pulisher shortly. 

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review here today and I look forward to sharing more reviews with you again tomorrow. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

A Tiger's Tale by Laura Morrigan, A Great Cozy Mystery!

I was so enchanted with Laura Morrigan's book Take the Monkey and Run that I knew I had to read the rest of the series. I was thrilled that my trusty library had a copy of A Tiger's Tale on hand. This was a wonderful story and the magic of the latest book is evident in A Tiger's Tale. Laura writes characters who are flawed and fabulous. I don't normally like to read books out of order but I enjoyed the Take the Monkey and Run story so much I could not wait to read the series and that doesn't happen very often to me.  A Tiger's Tale was thoughtfully written, a great mystery and a fantastic spin on a cozy mystery. This is the second book in the series and the second I have read. With it and the fourth book this has quickly become one of my favorite series to have discovered this year! Now to find and read book 1 and 3!

If you like cozies with a slight paranormal addition to the story and you happen to love animals you will truly enjoy A Tiger's Tale and Take the Monkey and Run.

"When a normally mellow tiger at a rescue facility trees a terrified vet, animal behaviorist Grace Wilde needs to use her psychic ability to get to the root of the problem A tiger can t change his stripes but if his behavior changes suddenly, there s a reason. So when even-tempered Boris the Siberian tiger goes into attack mode, Grace knows there s more to the story. Something is agitating the big cat. As she uses her telepathic ability to calm the tiger, she realizes he has witnessed a theft not of somethingbut of someone.Ateenaged volunteer at the animal rescue facility has been taken kidnapped. The problem is Brooke Ligner s parents believe their troubled daughter ran away and Grace can t exactly reveal her source. Even though sexy cop Kai Duncan is aware of Grace s secret ability, he can t initiate an investigation based on the word of a tiger. Now, as Grace searches for solid clues to rescue the missing teen, it s the human predators she ll need to watch out for "

To order your own copy of Laura Morrigan's A Tigers Tale please click here.
For Take the Monkey and Run please click here.

Learn more about Laura Morrigan and her Call of the Wilde Series by clicking here
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

A Cup of Tea With Laura Morrigan Author of Take The Monkey And Run!

Today I am so happy to have Laura Morrigan here for a cup of tea and a chat about her new book Take The Monkey and Run (Which I loved!) and her Call of The Wilde Series.

KMOT: Thank you Laura for joining us today. While writing what sustains you? Coffee, Tea, other? 

LM: "Coffee!!! Along with the kindness of friends and family who periodically throw food in my direction."

KMOT: How long was the writing process for Take The Monkey and Run?

 LM: "Longer than usual because of some major life changes. Divorce, moving etc... (No sad faces- everyone is happy now!) so it took me about a year, vs the typical nine months."

KMOT: Take the Monkey and Run is based in New Orleans did you take a field trip there for research? 

LM: "I sure did! I know, tough life, right? Research was fun, of course! But it really does help feed ideas. "

KMOT: Main Character Grace has such a unique talent, is she based on anyone you have ever met?

LM: "Nope. Like many people with pets, I've always wondered what they were thinking. Which made me wonder what it would be like to actually know. From that, Grace was born."

KMOT: Is there anything about your series you would like my readers to know?

LM: "I tell people that the Call of the Wilde series, while still a cozy, has a bit more suspense and action than most- so be ready for that!

Thank you Laura for joining us for a cup of tea today! 

To learn more about Laura Morrigan and her Call of The Wile Series please click here.

To order your own copy of Take The Monkey and Run with free shipping from The Book Depository please click here.

From Amazon please click here.

Thank you all for joining us here today 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 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

I Was Completely Captivated By Take The Monkey and Run by Laura Morrigan

I often pick books to read by their covers alone and this one was one I took a chance on and I am so very glad I did. Take the Monkey and Run, by Laura Morrigan, which came out July 5th was one of the most fun mysteries I have ever read. I was blown away by how much fun, how great the mystery and characters were and how quickly I felt emotionally attached and involved I felt in this story. It was such an awesome read. I don't want to give it away at all, however I will say this, the diverse and rich characters, surprised and enchanted me in ways I had not anticipated! This book was so good that I am seriously considering purchasing the series for myself and ordering Take The Monkey and Run for a friend for Buy A Friend A Book Day on August 31st.

Grace Wilde is excited to head to New Orleans for her first “real” case as an animal telepath. She intends to help a woman find her missing sister, but when she attempts to communicate with her client’s cat, Coco, Grace gets distracted by the presence of a much wilder animal.
 Coco confirms that a mysterious monkey has been swinging around the Big Easy. Grace thinks she might be able to help corral the cheeky Capuchin in addition to solving her case. But things get complicated when she receives a cryptic warning that her client isn’t what she seems. Now it’s up to Grace to separate the truth from the monkey business...

Having this book on my table was one of the highlights of my week. Great mystery, characters and so much more. I was completely bewitched!

This book is out now you can order on Amazon by clicking here.

Or with Free Delivery by The Book Depository by clicking here

Learn more about this series and Author Laura Morrigan by clicking here

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery 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