Sheila Connolly's The Lost Traveller

Sheila Connolly's 7th book in the Country Cork Mystery Series, The Lost Traveller, comes out in January, but I had the opportunity to read it over the last week. I absolutely loved it. This series features the main character Maura who is of Irish descent and arrived in Ireland to honor her grandmother's wishes. She finds a life and family she never could have dreamed of back in Boston and she inherited a Pub, which she runs as she learns the Irish way.  In the Lost Traveller Maura's luck at finding herself involved with latest murder in the area, after finding a dead body on her property. Maura is a character who is always under pressure and at a disadvantage but her different perspective helps her along the way. Learning as she goes and helping solve a very difficult crime, this one was more complex than the past and I loved the story lines. Maura is happy, and in a really great place in this story. I find the characters in this story to be easy to believe and like, trust and route for. I cannot wait for another book in this series. The Lost Traveller is out in January and you can find it on Amazon by clicking here. 

Danger comes to Cork in the seventh County Cork mystery from New York Timesbestselling author Sheila Connolly, and it’s up to Maura Donovan to find a way to protect all she’s worked for.Pub owner Maura Donovan is settling into a charmed life in Ireland—until a mutilated body on her property ends her lucky streak. Boston expat Maura Donovan came to Ireland to honor her grandmother’s last wish, but she never expected to stay in provincial County Cork—much less to inherit a house and a pub, Sullivan’s, in the small village of Leap. After a year-long struggle to stay in the black, Sullivan’s is finally thriving, and Maura has even brought back traditional Irish music to the pub. With a crop of new friends and a budding relationship with handsome Mick Nolan, Maura’s life seems rosier than ever—but even in Ireland, you can’t always trust your luck. It begins with Maura’s discovery of a body in the ravine behind the pub. And then, the Irish gardaí reveal that the victim’s face has been battered beyond recognition. Who is the faceless victim? Who wanted him dead? And why was his body dumped in the backyard of Sullivan’s Pub? Even after the dead man is finally given a name, nobody admits to knowing him. In the tight-knit world of Leap, no one is talking—and now it’s up to Maura to uncover the dark secrets that lurk beneath the seemingly quiet town. Laced with warm Irish charm, a delightful small-town setting, and a colorful cast of characters, New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly’s seventh County Cork mystery, The Lost Traveller, conspires to delight.

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

Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly

When I saw that Netgalley was offering a new mystery by Sheila Connolly I jumped at the change to request it. Murder at the Mansion is coming out June 26th and is published by Minotaur Books.  I get very excited when I get the chance to read a first in series by authors whose work I already love. I had no idea what to expect with Murder at the Mansion and it truly felt like Sheila took a typical failing american small town, reached down to the ground and picked up the dirt and dust surrounding it, threw it up in the air and magically turned it to fairy dust. The story transforms itself from page one and rolls out in true cozy spirit, endearing it to me with each chapter. This was not at all what I had expected, but exactly what a great first in series should be, this cozy has great bones, a cool story line, mystery you can get behind, justice served and a great deal of fun history to unearth. Look for this one for sure this June!

Katherine Hamilton’s goal in high school was to escape from her dead-end hometown of Asheford, Maryland. Fifteen years later she’s got a degree in hospitality management and a great job at a high-end boutique hotel in Baltimore. Until, that is, the hotel is acquired by a chain, and she’s laid off. When Kate’s high school best friend calls with a mysterious invitation to come talk with the town leaders of Asheford, she agrees to make the trip, curious about where this new opportunity might lead.

Once Kate arrives, the town council members reveal that their town is on the verge of going bankrupt, and they’ve decided that Kate’s skills and knowledge make her the perfect person to cure all their ills. The town has used its last available funds to buy the huge Victorian mansion just outside of town, hoping to use it to attract some of the tourists who travel to visit the nearby Civil War battle sites. Kate has less-than-fond memories of the mansion, for personal reasons, but to make matters worse, the only person who has presented a possible alternate plan is Cordelia Walker—Kate’s high school nemesis.

But a few days later, while touring the mansion, Kate stumbles over a body—and it’s none other than Cordelia. Kate finds herself juggling the murder investigation and her growing fascination with the old house, which itself is full of long-hidden mysteries. Kate must clear her name and save her town—before she ends up in hot water.

Thank you so much for taking time to join 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 January 6th-13th

Good morning from the Wet West Coast, perfect day for being inside for hockey games and home reading, or if you are like my sister, outside for soccer (one of the reasons I did not push them to become soccer players) I have been reading Deja Moo and upcoming paranormal cozy from a series I enjoy written by Kristen Weiss.

It has been a really busy but really fun week in the teacup department for me, I have been hitting the local thrift stores and scoring some lovely deals this week which I will share more about later next week and I have found some great journals at our local dollar store. I am going to do my very best not to lose it. I did clean my desk today and found the four other journals I had purchased late last year and promptly buried so I should be writing like crazy this year. 

In my cup this week I have been having a few different and lovely new teas. The one I had a friend mailed me and it was a Tazo tea called butterscotch blondie and if you have any in your stores, grab it! So good and now I have to track it down. It tasted like I was drinking tea and cookies, loved it! I have also had I love Tea #7, from Davids Tea, Vanilla black and Balmoral Blend Tea from Murchies. It has been perfect tea and reading weather this week.

In addition to reading, rescuing teacups and saucers and drinking tea. I attended a funeral for a family friend who passed away last week. He was part of my childhood and a man who gave his love of sport and who made support of children as his life's work. He was a pillar of our community and it was an honor to know him, have him as a coach and teacher. My heart goes out to the community, to his family and to all who new Vern Baker.  He was there for so many of us and in the end about 1000 of us were there for him. A three hour service and send off for him was an honor to be witness too. 

A true delight to have this weeks release of Sheila Connolly's Many A Twist to read. I have to tell you this series is one of my favorites. Based in Ireland and the twists in this one were spectacular. A great read and binge worthy series!

The Spirit of Grace by Terry Lynn Thomas was unlike any other paranormal cozy I had read before. Delightful and so happy to have had it on my table! A great read!

Cookies and Scream is the second book in the series and I loved it, CeeCee Jame's Baker Street Mysteries are good, touching and easy to love.

Libby Klein has a book coming out later this month that is a MUST READ. I related to the character perfectly, loved the story line and pretty much everything about it. Order this one for sure, I can not wait to see where this series goes.

I have also been working hard on the upcoming 24/7 event on the Beyond The Bookmarks Event Page called Cupids Cozies, we have 22+ authors coming by, crafts, recipes, great cozies and so much more. You can join us by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining me for a look back at what has been on my table and what is in my cup this week. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Many A Twist by Sheila Connolly

What a delight and refreshing treat it was to have Many a Twist by Sheila Connolly on my table this week. A few years back I learned of my own Irish heritage and shortly after,  I found this series. I quickly fell in love with the series and found connections to main character Maura right from book one. The title Many A Twist does this book justice in so many ways. I loved the many twists, all of them in the most simplest of ways satisfied and added special elements to this story. This is an incredibly revealing cozy mystery, balanced with just the right amount of suspicion,  deception and a tiny sprinkling of romance and enough hope to leave you with the coziest of feelings. It was beautifully written and a pleasure to read. Out now Many A Twist is out now from Crooked Lane Books and it is the sixth book in the series. 

Pub owner Maura Donovan hasn’t seen her mother for over twenty years, so when she suddenly shows up in Maura’s pub, Maura’s not sure what to expect. Her mother is trying to find a life for herself back home and has taken up a position working with the new owners of the Crann Mor hotel just outside Skibbereen. Until her new boss is found dead in the gardens, dumped down the hillside behind the hotel.Now, trying to rekindle the relationship they’ve lost, Maura must investigate in order to clear her mother’s name. It’s not so easy though, as long-time residents of County Cork, including the families of her employee Mick, and the family of the deceased hotel owner, have bottled deep dark family secrets not meant to be uncorked. And someone will kill to keep them that way.How far would you go to protect your family? Maura tests the age-old question in Many a Twist, the charming and atmospheric sixth County Cork mystery from New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly. You can find it on Amazon 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 November 11-18th

A week of surprises for sure and a wonderful assortment of reading on my table this week. My partner from the Halloween Swap kindly sent me Barbara Early's Death of A Toy Soldier which I have had on my wish list for quite sometime I am so looking forward to reading and reviewing this one!

On that same day I also received an order from Berkeley with three December titles I am very excited to add to my TBR list.

I have just finished Escape Claws and am thrilled and excited to share my review of this first in series that is coming out on December 26th! I am also very excited that I am hosting the release day party on my Beyond The Bookmarks Page during our Booked For The Holidays Event.

Find the Booked for the Holidays Event Page by clicking here.

The month long event I have planned is going to be one I hope is a highlight of your holiday plans. Spend some time each day with us, more than 35+ authors, recipes, games, tips, crafts and so much more. Come make new friends, find exciting reads and be able to honestly tell people you are "booked for the holidays" Click here to RSVP to the event,  also I have already started to post daily teasers, I hope you will check in and join us.

This week I read and very much enjoyed A Late Frost, its plot twist and characters make it easy to understand why this is such a much loved series. It is out now and a very good read.

Rhys Bowen, wowed me with The Ghost of Christmas Past, this is the first I have read in the series and book 17. I loved it could not put it down and read well past my bedtime. Perfect holiday mystery!

I publish daily as you know and it weighs heavy on me somedays when I think I am going to be very behind, however somehow I managed to publish twice on Thursday! I only released this last night. I also reviewed Potions and Pastries, the same day as The Ghost of Christmas Past, here I was worried I would have nothing for Thursday and I ended up double posting. Sorry if this caused any confusion and no one let me know!

I bought and loved and still love flipping through this book from the Irish Countrywomen's association Book Of Christmas. Great recipes, stories and more.

  

Sunday I reviewed A Murder for the Books. All and all a very busy week of reading and writing. 

I hope you have had a wonderful week. Thank you for joining me for this weeks look back at what was on my table and in my cup!

I would love hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Sheila Connolly A Late Frost

I was sent A Late Frost  by Sheila Connolly to review, and I had agreed to review it later this month but I enjoyed it so much I have decided to move it up. I have not read every book in this series actually I think I may have only read two but I loved this book. It piqued my interest from the start and it kept surprising me at every turn. It was not overly predictable as cozies can be and it had a truly fresh feel. I liked how this book had unlikely turns and twists. I loved the introductions of the new characters and how comfortable I felt in the book, as if I too were a member of the community. This books was sad in parts, exciting in parts and anything but predictable. I very much enjoyed it. 

The usually quiet town of Granford, Massachusetts, is even drowsier during the colder months. But this year it’s in for a jolt when Monica Whitman moves into town. She’s a dynamo who wants to make friends fast in her new home, and she throws herself into community activities. Meg Corey, now Chapin after her marriage to Seth Chapin, is intrigued by the new arrival, who has already sold the town board on a new, fun way to bring in visitors during the off-season: WinterFare, which will feature local foods (such as Meg’s apples) and crafts, as well as entertainment. Tragically, Monica falls ill and dies after the event in what looks like a case of food poisoning. When all the food served at WinterFare has been tested, including Meg’s apples, it becomes clear that there’s a more sinister explanation to the older woman’s sudden demise. Meg’s investigation uncovers a bushel of potential suspects, one of whom is rotten to the core.  

A Late Frost is out now and you can find it on Amazon 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

Five Amigos Fall-O-Ween Fun Week 4

Week four in out Five Amigos Fall-O-ween Fun Halloween series and all the little chocolate bars I bought for Halloween have disappeared! Quite a mystery on my hands here at home, (though I may be a tad to blame for this problem) This week I will jump in with the first of thise weeks Double Double. ...

My choice this week is Kathy Aarons Behind Chocolate Bars. I loved the cover and the Chocolate Covered Mystery series is a good one! This is book number two I think in the series and a scarier than normal cozy, well for me anyway, but a good one!

The national bestselling author of Truffled to Death returns with a mystery full of tricks and treats... DOUBLE, DOUBLE-BOIL, AND TROUBLE... Best friends and business partners Michelle and Erica have a monstrous to-do list as they prepare for the annual West Riverdale Halloween Festival. Their shop, Chocolates and Chapters, will have a booth at the event, where Michelle will serve spooky delights while Erica displays an assortment of spine-chilling books. Thank goodness the teenagers from Erica's comic-book club are chipping in to help. But one of their volunteers winds up in trouble after a woman's body is found in an abandoned house--with the teen's superhero key ring close by. The teen swears he didn't do it, but he's obviously hiding something--leaving Michelle and Erica with a witch's cauldron of questions. Soon they discover that the dead woman was tricking a whole bunch of people out of more than just treats. Now these two friends must go door-to-door if they hope to unmask a killer... Includes Scrumptious Chocolate-Making Recipes!

Karen K has selected for you this week is Defending The Dead by Sheila Connolly. 
"This book in the series includes a historical time period that lends itself to Abby's unique gift. Descriptive and enthralling."

Abby Kimball has slowly accepted her recently discovered ability to see the dead, but none of the harmless sightings she’s experienced could have prepared her for the startling apparition of a centuries-old courtroom scene—where she locks eyes with a wicked and gleeful accuser. Thrown back more than three hundred years, Abby realizes she’s been plunged into a mystery that has fascinated people throughout American history: the Salem witch trials.

With her boyfriend Ned at her side, Abby digs into the history of the events, researching the people and possible causes of that terrible time and her own connection to them—all the while going more deeply into her connection to Ned, both extraordinary and romantic. 

As Abby witnesses more fragments from the events in Salem and struggles with the question of how such a nightmare could have come about, she’s suddenly confronted with a pressing personal question: Were one or more of her ancestors among the accused? Unraveling the puzzling clues behind that question just might give Abby and Ned the answer to a very modern mystery of their own.

Thank you Karen K, I have not read this one myself adding to my list....
Okay and now for what our Amigos have for you,

Click here to see Sheryl's pick at Booth Talks Books 

visit Mary at MJBreviewers Blog by clicking here. 

Run on over to Lisa's blog Lisa K Book Reviews by clicking here. 

We all love hearing from you and we invite you to leave us a comment below and on our Amigos pages!
Thank you for joining us for a cup of tea and this weeks cozy mystery selections!
We can not wait for next Monday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day From My Table To Yours.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from my table to yours today. I thought I would share some of my favorite green tea cups and Irish based cozy mysteries with you today. The tea cup above is one my sister in law gave me after I found out about my heritage and I love this cup so much. With its delicate shamrocks and fluted edge this one is one of my most cherished in my collection. I actually use it quite often and not just at St. Patrick's Day.

Most recently I shared a non cozy but a great Irish book I ordered from The Book Depository. This has been a very cozy read, with recipes, lore and quotes that are calming and reassuring. A delight to have on my table. I am planing on ordering a few from this series and will share them with you as they arrive.  Click here if you would like to order this book with free shipping from The Book Depository. 

I loved pairing my cup with Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen, this one was set in Ireland and a wonderful read.

Carlene O'Cononor has a few books I loved Murder at an Irish Wedding is the newest of them and a read you wont want to put down!

This is another frequently used and much loved green set, from a friends Mother's collection, she kindly trusted this one into my care after her mother's passing. I do think of her when I use it. It is a Royal Stafford set with a blooming pink rose. 

Kathy Daley has a great read for St. Patrick's Day as well, Shamrock and Shenanigans was a fast and fantastic read.

Sheila Connolly has a wonderful Irish County Cork Mystery Series. I have read them all and anxiously await each of them. Buried in A Bog, jumped off the shelf at the library for me one day and it was one of my most favorite library discoveries. Libraries do sell book series, after reading this one I ordered the rest!

Thank you so much for joining me today for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery St. Patrick's day addition. May the road rise up to meet you and the wind be always at your back. From my table to yours this St. Patrick's Day.
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Shelia Connolly's Cruel Winter

Friday I finished Cruel Winter an up coming Irish based cozy by Sheila Connolly. I have really loved this Irish based cozy mystery and it felt like coming home again and spending time with family. This is book five in the series and this one is being published by Crooked Lane Books . The setting and characters are so richly written, endearing and realistic. This is a March 14th release and set in the dead of winter. Being surrounded by ice and snow myself with the winds howling I had no trouble settling into this captivating story. As Irish based series go this is one of my top favorites and this mystery based on loyalty and family and history struck all the right chords with me. It is my belief that you are in for a big treat with Cruel Winter! You can find this book to pre order on Amazon by clicking here.

Snow is a rarity in Maura Donovan's small village in County Cork, Ireland, so she wasn't sure what to expect when a major snowstorm rolled in around Sullivan's pub. But now she's stranded in a bar full of patrons--and a suspected killer in a long-ago murder.Maura’s been in Ireland less than a year and hasn't heard about the decades-old unsolved crime that took place nearby, let alone the infamous suspect, Diane Caldwell. But the locals have, and they're not happy to be trapped with her. Diane, meanwhile, seeks to set the record straight, asserting her innocence after all this time. And since no one is going anywhere in the storm, Maura encourages Diane to share her side of the story, which she’d never had a chance to do in court.Over the next few hours, the informal court in Sullivan’s reviews the facts and theories about the case--and comes to some surprising conclusions. But is it enough to convince the police to take a new look at an old case? A clever spin on the classic locked room mystery, Cruel Winter, the fifth in New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly's series, will delight fans of the Emerald Isle.

I so enjoyed reading Cruel Winter by Shelia Connolly. You can find a link to the book on Amazon by clicking here. 
Learn more about Sheila Connolly and her writing 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 January 7th-14th

What a wonderful week, hoping you did too. I have made lots of time for reading this week, finishing 4 books and was so thrilled to get Healing Herbal Tea's a book I ordered several months ago when I previewed it and reviewed it. I knew that I had to have this in my collection and spent most of last night reading through it planning blends to try.

I had the true luck of the Irish having two Irish Cozies on my table this week. Friday night I finished Cruel Winter, by Sheila Connolly.  I really did not want this one to end. Perfect read for this cold and icy week, this is book 5 and being published by Crooked Lane Books this March 14th. My review will be posted early next week.

Charlene O'Connor's Murder at an Irish Wedding was like a breath of fresh air. This is book two and takes place shortly after book one ends. I so admire the heart in this story, the strong family ties and cozy Irish hospitality the way that Carlene writes.

Witchy paranormal cozy Headless in Nevermore spent a bit of time on my table, this is a cozy I purchased from Amazon. Violet Merriweather spins a great fable and cozy mystery in this the second in series.

A wonderful surprise awaits in Kate Kingsbury's Dead and Breakfast a Merry Ghost Inn mystery. This is book one in a series I am really looking forward too. I love the granddaughter and grandmother duo, who sink everything into a haunted Oregon coast Victorian that they are renovating for a bed and breakfast when they stumble upon a skeleton behind the wall they are removing. Good mystery in this one!

She Stopped for Death was more of a psychological thriller cozy which I had on my table this week. I was very surprised  with how this cozy turned out. Love the ideas of the Little Library Mystery series and was excited to have book two to review.

A lovely little book also on my table was the Little Big Book of White Spells, this is a book that would make a great gift and one I appreciated as a reference for an aspiring paranormal cozy mystery writer.
In my cup this week I have lots of black tea, Double Cream Earl Grey from Thay Tea and Vanilla Black tea from Murchies.
I am so glad to have you join me here 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