Tuesday Tea and National Bubble Bath Day

I started my morning with the latest addition of Tea Time Magazine. I love this publication and am so excited and inspired with each issue. I love the Pink Teacups on the front and was inspired to pull my Aynsley one down off the shelf for this mornings me moment and tea.

 I was thrilled to see that Author Sarah Fox's new book Wine and Punishment was mentioned in the magazine! This is on my TBR pile right now! Click here to learn more. 

 Tuesdays in the tea shop for me is tea tin filling day and boy is it one of my most favorite things about working here. Filling the tea tins and the store with the most amazing aromas, this one is our Spa Blend and it tastes as beautiful as it looks. I even brought in my sewing scissors for our ribbons which I was pre cutting for our products today, I thought it was fun to tie some left over on the end of my scissors, just a touch of whimsy...

One of my favorite authors Lorna Barrett, shared that today is National Bubble Bath Day, now that is a day I can get behind for sure! I know what I am going to do later today, I will stop and pick some up on my way home from visiting my dad in hospital tonight.

I found this amazing site http://www.myhealthyhomemadelife.com/relaxing-flower-milk-bath-tea/ with a great recipe for a Flower and Milk bath, I have made these before and I love the idea of making this as part of Bubble Bath day, the Milk does foam so I am counting it as a win and I love the idea of adding tea or flowers to the bath.... Click here for the recipe from My Healthy Homemade Life. 

Thank you for joining me today for a quick cup of tea and a great way to celebrate and include tea in your everyday life. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Yeast Of Eden by Sarah Fox

Sarah Fox writes a wonderful series set on the West Coast about a Pancake House that is one of the series I look most forward to reading, anxiously awaiting the next instalment, in Yeast of Eden, Sarah doesn't disappoint. 

I love the cover, and the way Sarah writes the series it is so easy to picture and relate to the setting and the characters. This one tugged at my heart strings, the mystery as much as the history in this one was really touching and even though it is set around Christmas, it did not feel overly Christmasy or sickly sweet. A perfect blend! My mouth watered at the mention of the items offered in the Pancake house and I am grateful for the recipes at the end of the book. This one is out October 30th and is the fourth book in the series! I totally recommend this series for binge reading and a stack of pancakes to go with it! 

Winter has come to Wildwood Cove, and riding in on the chill is Wally Fowler. Although he’s been away for years, establishing his reputation as the self-proclaimed Waffle King, the wealthy blowhard has returned to the coastal community to make money, not friends—by pitting his hot and trendy Waffle Kingdom against Marley McKinney’s cozy pancake house, The Flip Side. Wally doesn’t see anything wrong in a little healthy competition, until he’s murdered in his own state-of-the art kitchen. Marley isn’t surprised when the authorities sniff around The Flip Side for a motive, but it’s her best friend Lisa who gets grilled, given her sticky history with the victim. When a second murder rocks the town, it makes it harder than ever for Marley to clear Lisa’s name. Marley’s afraid that she’s next in line to die—and the way things are looking, the odds of surviving her investigation could be stacked against her. 

You can find this book on Amazon by clicking here (I am not an Amazon affiliate) 
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 October 28th- November 4th

This week has been an eventful one, not the best to be sure but busy all the same. I have started reading Get Booked by Bridget M. Tighe this week,

Started Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) and have just made myself write every day so far, who knows never tried it so it may actually work!

Had Halloween, which we went to my in laws for. No kids up here we were told for trick or treating so we went to where we used to live instead. I missed handing out candy and seeing cute kids and costumes. Trick or Treating is hard work!
Above is my cat Squirrel, loving the warm sunlight on the front step.

Now our other Cat Mia, in nearly the same spot, just before her emergency surgery ...she somehow did horrific damage to her leg, knee cap, acl and ligaments of her leg, tough choice to make do the very expensive surgery or put an otherwise healthy two year old cat down. We chose the surgery. The recovery is likely to be a long one.

It was such a delight to read Lynn Cahoon's book this week and review it. I really love the idea of the writers retreat.

Sharon Pape writes a wonderful Fantasy Paranormal Cozy and this is a fun one! Loved reading That Olde White Magick!

The reluctant reader and I shared his love for the book Everything you need to know about Nightmares! And How To Defeat them. Great read and funny too!

I read Eaves of Destruction this week as well by Kate Carlisle and will share my review with you in a few days.

Sunday I reviewed of Spice and Men by author Sarah Fox. This is a great West Coast Series and we are having a release day party on Tuesday and you are invited!

Our pre party is on now so you can join in the fun now and on Tuesday, click here for the online event in Beyond The Bookmarks Facebook Event Discussion page.

Even though I have just started taking down the Halloween Decor and I have not yet pulled out the Christmas/Winter Holiday Decor I could not help but make a pot of Santa's Secret Tea a Davids Tea favorite this week. I also have had Mint Majesty by Teavana, Murchie's Vanila Black , Trader Joe's Early Grey and a camomile based tea.

Thank you for joining me here this week 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

Of Spice and Men by Sarah Fox

I finished book Three, Of Spice and Men, from the Pancake House Mystery series by Sarah Fox last Saturday night. I simply loved it. One of the things I have loved most about the series since the first book was the setting. A West Coast cozy mystery that gets the setting, feel and flair for the west coast has a special place in my heart. Until finding this series all the cozy mysteries I read were on the East Coast or tucked into the Southern USA . Living on the West Coast as I do, I was more than delighted to find author Sarah Fox and this series. In book three a movie crew has come to town and while filming a remake of a horror movie, mysterious things start happening and between the movie and the drama in main character Marley's life this cozy is quite exciting. I love her cat flap jack and feel like we really get to know her chef better in book three. There are mentions of so many wonderful menu items in this issue and I was thrilled with the recipes at the end of the book. Loved this story so much that I could not put it down and read very much past my bedtime to get it finished last Saturday night. This one comes out November 7th and published by Alibi/ Random House LLC. You can pre order this one on Amazon by clicking here.  Please note I am not an Amazon affiliate and I do not make money if you click the link.

With a Hollywood film crew in town to shoot a remake of the horror classic The Perishing, the residents of Wildwood Cove are all abuzz. Even Marley McKinney, owner of The Flip Side Pancake House, can overlook the fact that the lead actress, Alyssa Jayde, happens to be an old flame of her boyfriend. After all, the crew loves Marley’s crêpes—so much so that Christine, the head makeup artist, invites her onset for a behind-the-scenes tour. But when Marley arrives, the special-effects trailer is on fire . . . with Christine inside.The cops quickly rule Christine’s death a murder, and Alyssa a suspect. Marley’s boyfriend insists that the actress is innocent, but when Marley sticks her nose into the complicated lives of The Perishing’s cast and crew, she discovers more questions than answers. It seems that everyone has a hidden agenda—and a plausible motive. And as the horror spills over from the silver screen, Marley gets a funny feeling that she may be the killer’s next victim.

You can keep up with author Sarah Fox on her Website 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

Christmas Eve On My Table And In My Cup December 17th-24th

Merry Christmas Eve from my table to yours, what a week this has been, a snow storm, no internet and the move just two days away things are out of control crazy but I have gotten some fun new titles for 2017 and some great reading done!

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reading copy of Sarah Fox's For Whom The Bread Rolls. A great second in series that you will want to read when the tulips start bursting up from the ground. Reading this mid March release about the sweltering Summer heat was a delight this cold and damp pas week.

Murder Go Round by Carol J. Perry is a great story! I love the Russian Royal Family history and this one is so well done! Out in January you wont want to miss this one!

A lovely surprise to have The Square Life of Emily Duggan on my table this week written by a neighbor this was a lovely look at someones life, cozy and reflective, could not help but cry.

Vicki Delany has me very excited about this new series and the first title is appropriately named  Elementary, She Read ! Another mid March release this one is sure to get you thinking! Delightful!

My friend Anna makes the best shortbread. These lovely almost fist sized Russian tea cakes were a delightful surprise this week, seeing that I ate all the ones from the cookie exchange a few weeks ago. These are great with the Murchies Vanilla tea that has sustained me this week.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas this Christmas Eve. Thank you for joining me 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

For Whom The Bread Rolls by Sarah Fox

Please forgive my unedited photos today as I am having issues with our internet, the company providing our coverage can not have someone out to our house until after we move. The recent snow has caused a problem to the feed coming into our house. I am hopeful that this review will even post.

I read the March 14th  Release, For Whom the Bread Rolls by Sarah Fox last night. This is the second in the west coast based Pancake House Mystery series. Book two starts off a few weeks after main character Marley permanently relocates to run her inherited Pancake house. Plagued by troubles from Ida, the town trouble maker, Marley becomes a suspect when she finds Ida dead. Trying to clear her own name Marley is dealing with untrusting locals, her feelings about love and loss and so much more. Book two is a good summer themed beach read and one you are sure to enjoy!

Tourist season’s in full swing in the small seaside town of Wildwood Cove, and Marley McKinney couldn’t be happier. Since taking over the Flip Side restaurant, she’s made a few close friends, adopted a cat named Flapjack, and started dating her childhood crush. The only cloud on the horizon is local nuisance Ida Winkler, who blames Marley for landing her nephew in prison. Trying to get a rise out of Marley, Ida’s been making crank calls and even vandalizing the pancake house.The police can’t do much about the pranks, so Marley sets out to bury the hatchet once and for all. But someone’s beat her to it—in the most shocking way possible. After stumbling across Ida’s dead body, Marley’s suddenly the number-one suspect in her murder. Clearing her good name is going to be a tall order, but Marley’s not about to let Ida keep ruining her life—especially from beyond the grave.

To order your own copy of For Whom The Bread Rolls by Sarah Fox on Amazon please click here.
To learn more about Sarah Fox please click 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 August 13-20th

Saturday morning and a week in review to share. This passed Sunday was Author Duffy Brown's birthday and her Cycle Path Mystery Series is one I discovered and devoured earlier this year, I highly recommend this cozy series and celebrated her birthday by creating and posting this photo on Facebook. If you have not yet checked out Duffy Brown's mysteries I am officially encouraging you to do so.

Reading Kathi Daley books as often as I do, I feel a calm take over and quickly settled in for what is always a great story, a fun mystery and a cozy delight. Costume Catastrophe is out now and ready for immediate download.

One of the funniest and most entertaining cozy mystery books I have ever read, Pumpkin Picking with Murder is out August 30th and was such a delight to read. If you have yet to read the first Otter Lake Mystery called Skinny Dipping with Murder, you must treat yourself to both of these funny cozy mysteries!

A September release Living in the Moment by Danni DiPirro, was a wonderful book of reminders of how important it is to be mindful of the moment. A very quick read and a lovely book you can gift to yourself or to others.

It was delightful to have Author Sarah Fox join me for a release day cup of tea of The Crepes of Wrath,  first in a new series and a yummy themed cozy series at that! I look forward to more stories to come from this "West Coast" based Series!

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

A Release Day Celebration And Cup of Tea With Author Sarah Fox

Today is the release day for The Crepes of Wrath by Sarah Fox. I read, reviewed and so enjoyed this book in early June. This wonderful West Coast Cozy first in series has me really excited! I love that it is set not far from where I live and the idea of a community that loves and supports a small pancake house was very endearing! I asked Sarah to sit down and share a cup of tea with us today and talk about her book and writing process.

KMOT: What sustains you when you are writing? (Coffee, Tea, other)
SF: "Definitely tea! I also love chocolate, but I rarely have a writing sessionwithout a cup of tea."

KMOT: Do you have a favorite mug or teacup and saucer?
SF: "Yes, my favourite mug was given to me by one of my critique partners. Notonly does it hold a nice amount of tea, it also has a mini pep talkwritten on it, one which ends with, "Now get back to work." I use that mugpretty much every day."

KMOT: How long start to finish, idea to final draft went into The Crepes of Wrath?
SF: "Probably close to two years because The Crêpes of Wrath went throughseveral transformations before it became what it is today. I startedwriting the original version (which had nothing to do with a pancakehouse) in the spring of 2014 when I was still an unagented writer. In June2014, I signed with my agent. Once she'd sent my first mystery, DeadRinger, out on submission, I sent her my seaside cozy. After talking aboutmaking some changes, I rewrote it, but it still wasn't quite what wewanted it to be (I think at that point it was about a beachfront resort).Then we decided to centre the story around a seaside pancake house and itbecame The Crêpes of Wrath. While it went on submission to publishers as aproposal (first three chapters, a synopsis, and blurbs for the next twobooks in the series) I finished writing the latest version of themanuscript in between writing the books for my other series. So by thetime I had it polished and ready to turn in to my editor at Alibi for thefirst time, it was the beginning of January 2016."

KMOT: Where do you draw your inspiration from when writing?
SF: "Several places. I'm definitely inspired by other cozy mystery authors. Iread a lot of cozies and they're always inspiring me to write more of myown. I also get ideas from the world around me, including from things Ihear on the news or in conversation. Sometimes a particular place orexperience inspires me as well. I got the idea for my first mystery series(the Music Lover's Mysteries) from my years playing violin in schoolorchestras in Vancouver, and the setting for The Crêpes of Wrath wasinspired by one of my favourite vacation spots. Sometimes music sparksideas for me as well."

KMOT: There are not as many "West Coast" based cozy series, what made you choose
your story location?
SF: "I grew up in Vancouver, Canada and used to spend time each summer at abeach on Vancouver Island. I knew I wanted to write a seaside cozyinspired by that beach, so I created the town of Wildwood Cove. My agentthought publishers would be more open to a location in the US, so I justshifted the fictional town down across the border to the OlympicPeninsula." 

Thank you all for joining Sarah and I for tea today and thank you to Sarah for sharing a cup of tea with us and a bit about her new book The Crepes Of Wrath, available today! Click here to order your own copy from Amazon. 
Learn more about Sarah Fox by visiting her website when you click 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

The Crepes of Wrath By Sarah Fox, A Great Summer Release And A New Series To Fall In Love With!

I had the pleasure of reading The Crepes of Wrath by Sarah Fox last Friday night. This was an excellent read. Set on the west coast and had all the right ingredients for the perfect cozy! Thrilled to have read it. Out this August 16th, this is a first in series summer release you are going to love! This cozy had truly likable character, two plausible mysteries and a great west coast setting. Not many cozies here on my side of the continent and this first in series checked off every box in my "what makes a great cozy" list. Start to finish this was a cozy mystery that not only had me ready to pick up and move, but to take a seat at my favorite new pancake house and make some new best friends!

When Marley McKinney’s aging cousin, Jimmy, is hospitalized with pneumonia, she agrees to help run his pancake house while he recovers. With its rustic interior and syrupy scent, the Flip Side Pancake House is just as she pictured it—and the surly chef is a wizard with crêpes. Marley expects to spend a leisurely week or two in Wildwood Cove, the quaint, coastal community where she used to spend her summers, but then Cousin Jimmy is found murdered, sprawled on the rocks beneath a nearby cliff. After she stumbles across evidence of stolen goods in Jimmy’s workshop, Marley is determined to find out what’s really going on in the not-so-quiet town of Wildwood Cove. With help from her childhood crush and her adopted cat, Flapjack, Marley sinks her teeth into the investigation. But if she’s not careful, she’s going to get burned by a killer who’s only interested in serving up trouble.

I can not say enough about how much I enjoyed this cozy! I would say it is one of the best first in series I have ever read and I am truly excited to see where this series goes! To order your own please click here for the Amazon listing, pre order yourself a summer delight!
Learn more about Author Sarah Fox on her website by clicking here 
I would also like to thank my friend Karen Kenyon for recommending this cozy to me! 
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