Madeness of Mercury A New Series Out In June.

I was thrilled to get an ARC of Connie di Marco's Madness of Merrcury. This cover gave me a warm and cozy feeling and it was a very promising of a cozy mystery story but I found that this story was a much deeper and darker story then your run of the mill cozy mystery. This mystery was very well written and very well thought out.

"San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti's life is turned upside down when she becomes the target of the city's newest cult leader, Reverend Roy of the Prophet's Tabernacle. Driven out of her apartment in the midst of a disastrous Mercury retrograde period, she takes shelter with a client who's caring for two elderly aunts. One aunt appears stricken with dementia and the other has fallen under the spell of the Reverend Roy. To add to the confusion, a young man claiming to be a long lost nephew arrives. The longer he stays, the more dangerous things become. Is the young man truly a member of the family? Can astrology confirm that? Julia's not sure, but one thing she does know is that Mercury wasn't merely the messenger of the gods—he was a trickster and a liar as well."

While I loved the cover of this book I had hoped this would feel more like a paranormal cozy. It felt more like a thriller/mystery and in the end it did not leave me with that warm and cozy feeling I had hoped.  Still a book I could not easily put down and one I think others will enjoy. This book is out June 8, 2016
To order you own copy of The Madness of Mercury please click here.  
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 

The Cracked Spine A Scottish Bookshop Mystery Review A True Armchair Adventure Novel!

Saturday was a cold, rainy and windy afternoon and the perfect time to pick up my Ipad, settle into the couch with a cozy blanket and a perfect cup of tea. As I opened my Kindle app and began reading The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton, I knew in the opening "Wanted Add"  that this was going to be a very special cozy mystery and one I knew straight away I would love.

"Wanted: A bold adventurer who wants to travel the world from a comfortable and safe spot behind a desk that has seen the likes of kings and queens, paupers and princes. A humble book and rare manuscript shop seeks a keenly intelligent investigator to assist us in our search for things thought lost, and in our quest to return lost items to their rightful owners."

Who would not want to apply for that job? I am telling you I think I might even pay for an opportunity to do so! I could not put own The Cracked Spine and I read it in one sitting. I was immediately caught up in the story, characters and charm that was evident in the warm and welcoming characters that main character Delaney encounters once landing in Scotland for her new job.  

"Never an adventurer, no one was more surprised than Delaney Nichols when she packed her bags and moved halfway across the world to Edinburgh, Scotland to start a job at The Cracked Spine, a bookshop located in the heart of the city. Her new boss, Edwin MacAlister, has given her the opportunity of a lifetime, albeit a cryptic one, and Delaney can’t wait to take her spot behind the desk.

The Cracked Spine is filled with everything a book lover could want, each item as eclectic as the people who work there; the spirited and lovable Rosie, who always has tiny dog Hector in tow; Hamlet, a nineteen-year-old thespian with a colored past and bright future; and Edwin, who is just as enigmatic and mysterious as Delaney expected. An extra bonus is Tom the bartender from across the street, with his cobalt eyes, and a gentle brogue—and it doesn’t hurt that he looks awfully good in a kilt.

But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact goes missing, and Edwin’s sister is brutally murdered. Never did Delaney think that searching for things lost could mean a killer, but if she’s to keep her job, and protect her new friends, she’ll need to learn the truth behind this Scottish tragedy."

This cozy mystery  is even more inviting then the lovely cover would have you believe and one of the most diverting and enjoyable stories I have read this year. This may actually become one of my most favorite series.  The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton is out March 29th, you can pre order a copy from Amazon by clicking here. 

You can also order from The Book Depository 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 

To Catch a Treat A Cozy Mystery Review

I spent Friday night finishing To Catch A Treat Bay Linda O. Johnston . Dog lovers and cozy mystery enthusiasts are going to celebrate and truly enjoy this second in the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series.

"Carrie Kennersly, veterinary technician and owner of the Barkery and Biscuits bake shop, agrees to a day of hiking with her brother Neal mostly because she wants to meet—and critique—his latest romantic interest, Janelle Blaystone. But instead of judgment, Carrie has only sympathy for Janelle, whose beloved black Labrador, Go, was recently dognapped along with many other purebred pets.

Janelle thinks the culprit is Ada Arnist, a wealthy homeowner spotted at the dog parks where Go and the others were stolen. Soon after Janelle confronts her, though, Ada is found dead. With Janelle and Neal on the suspect list, Carrie must solve the mystery before the police bark up the wrong tree."

Out May 8th you have time to pre order To Catch A Treat from Amazon and if you have not already you can read the first in the series Bite The Biscuit 

At time of this review it is free to read on Kindle on Amzon by clicking here. 

I was so pleased to be selected to read an advanced reading copy on my kindle app, I know you are going to so enjoy it! 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 

Happy Valentines Day From My Table To Yours...

Happy Valentines Day. Earlier this week I had my friend Daniela over for a pre Valentines day tea. I thought you may like to see how I set the table for our tea party.

I started by cleaning off my very large and well used farm table, topped it with an Irish lace table cloth that was a gift from my friend Anna.

I am more a fairy person then an Angel person so I set my table using these lovely Fairy Statues from Party Lite a home based candle business that my friend Kim gave me a few weeks ago. I like the Whimsy they bring to my table. I also used my Royal Albert Petite Point China which is in pinks and light blue and green. For my center piece I used one of my white teapots with a pink and cream floral arrangement in the center. The large red doilies work as my place mats and I cut out hearts from pink card stock and placed them on the table for color.

I set the homemade tea cards at each setting and waited for my scones to come out of the oven.

I made Cinnamon Apple Scones and served it with Adorabella Tea's Paris Blend. My friend gave me the sweetest little tin of I love tea #7 blend from Davids Tea. We had a lovely visit and having so many things that were gifts from friends on my table made it feel that much more special. I hope you enjoy your Valentines day. Thank you for joining me for A Cup of Tea and A Cozy Mystery, the mystery being this week when are my books going to arrive? I am starting to worry my mail is getting stolen again!
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 6-13th

Welcome to another week in review, sadly the mail man did not have my book order at all this week. Thankfully my Kindle app has not disappointed! I was thrilled to be approved for the ARC of Linda O Johnston's book To Catch A Treat, out later this spring.

I read and reviewed the box set of Sarah Wynde's A Tassamara Box set, this was such a wonderful series and I hear that there may be even more fun adventures in the works for the people of Tassamara hopefully this spring!

I hosted a small valentines tea party this week and I will have all the cozy photos up for you tomorrow. I hope wherever you find yourself this weekend you feel cozy and loved!

Thank you for joining me for this week in review and 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

Etsy Fun For Book Lovers

I down loaded Linda O Johnston's ARC of  To Catch A Treat Last night and have started on it as my mail seems to be again held back due to my mail man having last week off, not one book arrived of my pre orders and I was hoping to have them all read and reviewed for you this week, so instead of my reviews here are a few fun items I found on Etsy.  

As many of you know I use a lot of candles and this set caught my eye.  Frost Beard Etsy Shop offers Book Lover's Soy Candles in scents book lovers will appreciate you can order your own set of 4 by clicking here. 

I am very intrigued by Pop Some Tag's listing for 5 hand sewn tea bags in various flavors, So much cuteness I may have get a few of my own. Click here to learn more about these fun flavors to enjoy with your next cozy read. 

I have a very eclectic selection of throw pillows an this one is now on the top of my list, check out The Sweet Digs Co for their perfect for tea drinking cozy book reading happy people like me! 
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery today. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Great Deals On Two Of My Cozy Favorites!

I am happy to report that two of my favorite books are ridiculously discounted right now! Duffy Brown's Geared for the Grave which I recently read and loved is on sale for $1.99. This was such a fun read and I have never wanted to high five a main character as much as I did at the end of this fun cozy! Click here to order it on Amazon for $1.99 

I can not wait for book two Breaking For Bodies later this year!

Heather Blake's The Goodbye Witch is also on for $1.99 for Kindle, such a great deal! Click here  to learn more.

I loved this book so much and reviewed it in May of 2014 you can read my review here.

I am still anxiously awaiting the mail man and a delivery of something other then junk mail.
From my table to yours happy reading. Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery. 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