Week 1 of our Five Amigos Fall-O-ween Fun Halloween Addition!

Today is the start of our Halloween Fall-o-Ween Fun and Karen K and I have some of our most favorite Halloween Themed or Paranormal Cozies to share with you.

I will go first this week and my selection is Krista Davis' The Diva Haunts the House. This was the first Diva book I ever read, found it spinning the racks at the library and from the first page I was hooked, now a Krista Davis fan for life! I ended up buying the entire series from The Book Depository as it has FREE worldwide shipping you can find it online by clicking here. 

In the fifth mystery in the New York Times bestsellingDomestic Diva series, Sophie Winston is getting into the Halloween spirit, but someone else is intent on mischief... Sophie's decorations for a community haunted house are so good, it s scary. Not to be outdone, rival domestic diva Natasha is throwing a spooktacular Halloween party at her house. But when Sophie arrives, she discovers one of Natasha s guests dead in a hair-raising Halloween display, and a pale, fanged partygoer fleeing the scene. The cause of death is not immediately apparent, but the victim does have two puncture wounds on his neck. While Sophie s boyfriend, homicide detective Wolf, investigates, rumors start flying faster than witches on broomsticks. Could the killer be a real vampire the same one rumored to have lived in Sophie s haunted house back when it was a boardinghouse? Good thing a domestic diva never runs out of garlic... Includes delicious recipes and entertaining tips!"

Karen K's choice is Leigh Perry's The Skeleton Haunts A House

"Hallowe'en lends itself nicely to this unique series. I adore the character of Sid and this book is one of my favourites in the series. "

Sid the Skeleton bones up on clues to solve a Haunted House homicide in this mystery from the author of The Skeleton Takes a Bow What holiday could bring more warmth to a skeleton s chest cavity than Halloween? And when you re a living skeleton who s not supposed to be seen outside the house, it s a welcome chance to get some fresh air and rub bony elbows with people. That s why Sid doesn t mind wearing a full-body dog suit and going as Scooby-Doo along with Georgia Thackery s Velma to the Halloween Howl. Sid can t wait to go through the Haunted House but he gets rattled for real when a genuine dead body is discovered. Trapped inside as the police quickly seal off the crime scene, Sid makes no bones about dropping the dog suit and posing as an actual skeleton. This murder is a skull-scratcher, but as long as Sid is on the inside, he might as well case the joint to figure out who used the cover of darkness to commit the perfect crime "

We are so glad you are joining us here Mondays! Now let's see what our Amigos have for us!

Check out what Sheryl has happening over at Booth Talks Books!

See what  Mary over at MJBreviewers has picked by clicking here

See what Lisa has picked for you over at Lisa K's Book Reviews by clicking here. 

We all love hearing from you and we invite you to leave us each comments below and on each others pages! Thank you for joining us today for a cup of tea and a look at our Fall-O-Ween Halloween picks!

The Skeleton Paints A Picture by Leigh Perry

Today I am sharing my review of The Skeleton Paints A Picture, which is a book I finished September 5th. I was so thrilled when I got approved to read and review this book and was delighted to find that Leigh Perry brought all the magic over to her new publisher with The Skeleton Paints A Picture, this is the 4th book in the series which quickly earned a spot as a series in my heart. While technically this is a paranormal cozy mystery, it really doesn't read like one. The magic is Sid himself, an extraordinary character, rich in depth, emotion, humor and grace you almost forget that he is a skeleton. The banter between main character Dr. Georgia Thackery and Sid is my favorite part of the book, the way they have chemistry that pops off the page,  they are Best Friends and unlikely sleuths who share a love of movies and the internet. I am always so amazed with  author Leigh's ability to create new ways that Sid can "roam free" and how with each book, I feel jealous that I do not have a skelton best friend of my own.  This was a great story and mystery, different from the last three but built on the magic and mystery solving duo I love.  I enjoyed that Georgia and Sid are on their own in this one but I did miss the snarky teenage daughter and quirky sister. All in all I loved this book, this series even got me over my fear of skeletons at Halloween! Now I even want one! 

Georgia Thackery, adjunct English professor, has a new job teaching at Falstone College of Art and Design, known as FAD to its students and faculty. Living in a borrowed bungalow during winter in the snowiest part of Massachusetts, Georgia feels her isolation weighing as heavily as the weather. Then she receives a package containing her best friend, Sid, a walking, talking skeleton who has lived with the Thackery family since Georgia was six. With Georgia working out of town, Sid was lonely too. The two of them make plans for a cozy semester together, and it might have worked out that way if Sid hadn’t snuck out in the middle of the night to play in the snow and spotted a crashed car. When he drags Georgia out to investigate, they find the driver behind the wheel, apparently dead from the collision. Initially, police think it’s an accident, so Georgia and Sid think that’s the end of it―until Georgia finds out the body hits closer to home than she’d realized...

This one is out October 10th from Diversion Publishing and you can pre order it on Amazon by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining me here 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 September 2nd-9th

On my table this week I have had quite a lot. Not just books and tea, but calenders, school forms and homework. This week was back to school week one for us and the chaos has begun. In my blessed chaos I do realize and am thankful to for the small issues this has caused in my own world, I only have to turn on the news, or Facebook to see the devastation first hand, fires, floods, storms, earthquakes, accidents and threats of war world wide. I try so hard to focus on the good. Not always easy and something easy to forget. In times of chaos, there are always helpers, the good in people does shine through even in the darkest of times.

 It was a lovely surprise to have a copy of MK Graff's book Golden Hour arrive in my mailbox this week. I am looking forward to reading it.

I am reading this book so slowly not on purpose but due to the events and amount of work I have been doing this week, the last two days I am starting to feel more like myself, just still really tired.
So this one may take me a bit to get to the review.

I did read and enjoy Leigh Perry's The Skeleton Paints a Picture this week, it is a great book and series and this review will be up soon to share!

I got to review a new Witchcraft book this Wednesday that will be out in October and would make a great holiday gift too!

Dial Meow for Murder was on my table this week and a great read as well! I love an uncomplicated character in a complicated mystery!

What a treat to be able to read Yuletide Homicide, this one I will say I cheered at in the end. I love this series so much.

Monday morning before all the chaos, I did go to the beach with my husband while he walked I sat and sipped my tea it was a lovely sunrise and matched my teacup perfectly I tote my teacup and saucer, as well as my Murchie's Vanilla Black Tea in a thermos and sit with the birds, harbor seals, seagulls and Canadian Geese. As I get stronger I will hopefully be able to keep up with him as he walks. 

I ordered and got new glasses this week as well, I am so pleased with how comfortable they are and how well I feel I see in them.

We started our new Fall Series this week and I hope you got to check it out! Be sure to check in on Monday to see what Karen K and I have for you!

I hope you have enjoyed this quick look back at the week and what has been on my table and in my cup!  Thank you for joining me here 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 March 4th to 11th

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

The Skeleton Haunts A House by Leigh Perry

Last night I finished The Skeleton Haunts a House by Leigh Perry. I adore this series and thank my friend Karen Kenyon for getting me started on this series as well as buying me books two and three. This is a paranormal cozy that reads like a traditional cozy, and it is brilliant. I found myself holding my breath, saying "oh no" out loud and putting the book down in anger with one of the characters when I was in disbelief of the story lines epic and well thought out tangents!  I loved this story, mystery and result. I was guessing until the end and I was very relieved that my suspicions for who was the murderer was wrong. A great cozy and a great series. I am thrilled to learn that there are more adventures with Sid coming soon, sadly not with Berkley though. I can not say enough about this series and how much I enjoy it. I can not wait to see what Sid gets up to next, The Thackery Family and the Carney's too...

Sid the Skeleton bones up on clues to solve a Haunted House homicide in this mystery from the author of "The Skeleton Takes a Bow" What holiday could bring more warmth to a skeleton s chest cavity than Halloween? And when you re a living skeleton who s not supposed to be seen outside the house, it s a welcome chance to get some fresh air and rub bony elbows with people. That s why Sid doesn t mind wearing a full-body dog suit and going as Scooby-Doo along with Georgia Thackery s Velma to the Halloween Howl. Sid can t wait to go through the Haunted House but he gets rattled for real when a genuine dead body is discovered. Trapped inside as the police quickly seal off the crime scene, Sid makes no bones about dropping the dog suit and posing as an actual skeleton. This murder is a skull-scratcher, but as long as Sid is on the inside, he might as well case the joint to figure out who used the cover of darkness to commit the perfect crime "

Click here to order your own copy with Free shipping from The Book Depository
Learn more about this series and author Leigh Perry by clicking here.

On My Table and In My Cup February 11th-18th

Greetings from my table here on the West Coast. This morning I have Blogging is Murder on my table this weekend by Gillian Baker. It is an interesting read having a series about someone who blogs.

I was so excited to get messages from my friend and fellow nominee Lisa K along with my friend Karen as I was nominated as one of A Cozy Experience's Top Ten Cozy Mystery Blogs, you can view this post and check out some amazing blogs I feel very honored to be considered among these wonderful writers. Click here to read the article. 

I was thrilled to read Cat Got You Cash by Julie Chase this week. I so enjoyed this series and I know you will too, this is an April release you wont want to miss.

A visit with Sid this week was just what I needed. I love this series by Leigh Perry and if you have not checked it out, trust me you will grow to love him too.

An adventure bite sized cozy read Poison in the Heart a pot of tea and a quick read this is a great lunch or tea time read. I am looking forward to the next one!

Reading a Vancouver BC based cozy was also a highlight to share this week. I love the idea that where I live is highlighted in such a way.

In my cup this week I have had my regular Murchie's Vanilla blend but also tried the Harney & Son's Valentine tea, which is a lovely chocolate rose tea as well as having Jasmine tea this week almost every day.

I got this beautiful card in the mail this week with the surprise delivery of the tea and lovely tea cup and saucer. I may have to frame this I love it so much.

Thank you for taking time to join me this week for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

The Skeleton Takes A Bow by Leigh Perry

Happy Valentines Day. Today I am sharing a review of Leigh Perry's The Skeleton Takes A Bow.

Last week my friend Karen sent me two books in the Family Skeleton Series by Leigh Perry, which she recommended to me last year and I am absolutely loving them. I was thrilled that she remembered and thought to send me the two I had not yet read. If you have not yet read this series you need to add it to your to be read pile. While yes this is a paranormal cozy it doesn't read like one, in fact Sid, the Skeleton feels like such a real person. He is so much more then just a skeleton who walks and talks. He is a best friend and protector along with being a member of the family. He is funny and intuitive, curious and helpful. In this book Skeleton Takes A Bow, Sid is even an actor. There is no one quite like Sid, which makes him even more endearing. This is a family centered mystery series and in Skeleton Takes A Bow the mystery is very well written. Tugs at the heart strings a bit, gives you the warm and cozy feeling at the end and feels quite plausible given the circumstances. I think this is a brilliant series that started with Leigh Perry and Berkley but is moving to another publisher in October 2017 with A Skeleton Paints A Picture. You can keep up with Leigh Perry on Facebook by clicking here. I loved book two and I am so excited to read book three and four!

After years of hiding in the Thackery family house, Sid the skeleton is delighted to finally have his moment in the spotlight. He’s starring in a high school production of Hamlet. Well, not so much starring in as being a prop. At least part of him has a part—he’s using his head to play Yorick of “Alas, poor Yorick” fame. Every day, Georgia Thackery’s daughter, Madison, who’s also in the play, brings in his skull, and every night, she takes him home...Until one night when he’s accidentally left at school—and hears the sounds of someone being murdered. But the next day, there’s no body and no one seems to be missing.Sid is not a numbskull—he knows what he heard. Georgia thinks he imagined it—until a week later when a body is found. Now Georgia and Sid will both need to keep their heads as they stick their necks out and play sleuth to catch the conscience of a killer…

To order your own copy of The Skeleton Takes A Bow by Leigh Perry from Amazon please click here.
From The Book Depository with Free Shipping please click here.
Learn more about this series and up coming releases from Leigh Perry on her Facebook Fan Page 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 February 4th-11th

Another great week of reading has come to an end and I am delighted to share a recap of the books that have crossed my table this week. Above are the books my friend Karen sent me for our January books swap. I am so excited to read these as Karen introduced me to this series and I love Sid!

Sunday I shared my review of Fran Stewart's Scotshop Mystery A Wee Homicide in the Hotel. As I sat inside looking out over the snow covered yard it was wonderful to have this summer set cozy to escape too!

Monday on my table I reviewed Clover Tate's new release Blown Away, set on the West Coast and in the Spring it was another great escape cozy!

I was so thrilled to find my quote on the inside War and Peach!

I love this series and it was a great honor to find that quote inside! Family loyalty and great mystery await you in War and Peach by Susan Furlong.

Paige Shelton's Bookman Dead Style was a book I just did not want to end! I am new to this series and thrilled with this book. It is well written and felt like a guilty pleasure to read. A must read for sure!

A Chocolate Paranormal Witch Cozy that was exactly what I needed mid week! Having a good escape cozy with a chocolate theme made it all the more sweeter! This is a first in series and a good read! At the time of publishing this post it is on sale at amazon.com for less then the cost of a chocolate bar! A sweet deal for sure. Click here to learn more. 

Also on my table (and very excited to share my review with you tomorrow) was Murder is Uncooperative by Merrilee Robson. This cozy is based here in Vancouver and was an honor to read.

Monday I will share my review of Poison in the Heart by ST Englert. This Bite Sized Read is one I know you are going to love!

Have you been following the clues? Kathi Daley Books is hosting a very fun Valentines Day Scavenger Hunt.  Do check my Facebook on February 13th for the clue of the day! 

This week I have had a selection of Murchie's Teas in my cup, their Vanilla black tea is my favorite and with all the stree of the snow storms this week I have also truly enjoyed their Lavender Black tea as well.
Thank you so much for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review. I look forward to having you here each and every day. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com