Duffy Brown's Tandem Demise

Last week I bought myself Tandem Demise, Duffy Brown's most recent book in the Cycle Path Mystery Series. I have been a huge fan of this series since I bought and read the first two. I was sad when Berkley let the series go but thrilled that Duffy was able to finally publish this one. Tandem Demise has everything I loved about the first two books and more. I was surprised by the hook and twist ending but loved each and every turn to get there. If you are looking for a great follow your heart mystery, with a perfectly flawed and clumsy main character, and a idyllic setting you must read this series!
I bought my book on Amazon.ca and read it on my Kindle app on my Ipad, the other two I have in paperback. I missed the paper in my hands but I could not put the kindle app book down. A great read!

Smugglers on the hunt, a police chief on the run, lost loot and a dead wedding planner have the Mackinac Island regulars riding in circles After solving two murders, bike shop owner Evie Bloomfield thought life on Mackinac Island would settle into boredom until she finds out Nate Sutter, island police chief and once-upon-a-time under cover cop is on the run. Some badass guys from Nate’s Detroit days think he stole money from them in a champagne smuggling operation and now they’re headed to the island to get their loot. Evie is determined to help Nate because he’s a good cop, Nate is determined to keep interfering Evie and island locals out of harms way, and the crooks are determined to get their money. To add to the island’s problems there’s a dead guy on the dock and the new wedding planner is more interested in playing bedroom bingo than ordering bridal bouquets. With the help of Fiona, Evie’s BFF and local newspaper editor, Evie is determined to prove Nate innocent, figure out how champagne smuggling, bodies on the dock and a bad wedding planner are tied together and not wind up taking a long walk off a short pier herself

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 

Lethal in Old Lace by Duffy Brown

Lethal in Old Lace was a truly wonderful southern cozy mystery. Written by Duffy Brown who I love so much, for me this is the first in the Consignment Shop Series. I have no idea why I have not read any of these until now. Strong, funny and charismatic Southern Characters. So much charm, community and tenacity!  This was a fun read, a light and charming book with a good murder mystery and a ton of spunk! This book is out March 13th by Crooked Lane Books and I highly recommend it. 

Reagan Summerside returns in national bestselling author Duffy Brown’s fifth Consignment Shop mystery, now for the first time in hardcover.There are two social functions in Savannah guaranteed to get people talking: weddings and funerals. And just as consignment shop owner Reagan Summerside agrees to marry the hunky Walker Boone, her neighbors, sisters Annie Fritz and Elsie Abbot, step up their business as professional mourners. They are so successful that the Sleepy Pines Retirement Center has hired them as a part of their retirement package. But the celebration over good business is cut short when the residents at Pines suddenly begin dying at an alarming rate. And the sisters are the first suspects.Reagan has her doubts, however, and begins to look into the strange phenomenon. But then something even stranger happens: a body winds up in the sisters’ pink Caddy. The evidence begins to pile up and the suspicious case of Willie Fishbine, who swindled the sisters out of a fortune and coincidentally died prior to the Pines case, is reopened.Not wanting Willie to be buried until they can find the killer responsible for the murders, Reagan must catch the culprit in time to walk down the aisle. 

You can find Lethal in Old Lace 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 

Three Amigos Summer Reading Club Week 11- Final Week

I can not believe we are on our final Monday of our 11 week long Three Amigos Summer Reading Club. I sure hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. The summer goes way too fast for me and it doesn't often slow down, sometimes I wish we could adopt that Island feeling and keep summer with us all year long.  This week our theme is Cozy Mystery Books about Islands and my pick was so hard to do I have had to PICK TWO to share. Hopefully the girls won't get too upset with me. Both these books are books I purchased for myself and bought the entire series as a result!
First my pick is Duffy Brown's Braking for Bodies.

I loved this series and this is book two.  Book one is an excellent read as well but I absolutely loved book two and that cover is one of my favorites.  I understand that we may yet get a book three from Duffy and I can not wait!

Moving from Los Angeles to small, picturesque Mackinac Island to work in a bike shop might seem crazy, but Evie knows it’s the best decision she’s ever made. That’s not to say she’s gotten rid of all her stress; after all, the upcoming Lilac Festival has everyone in town riding in circles. But things really go downhill when a ferry full of tourists—including Evie’s friend Fiona’s former boss, the editor of a sleazy rag in LA—arrives on the island. No one knows why Peephole Perry came all the way to Mackinac, but things aren’t looking good for Fiona when Peep is found dead. Now Evie has to gear up and get a grip on the truth if she wants to clear her friend’s name...

You can find Breaking for Bodies on Amazon by clicking here.

I would be totally remiss if I did not also recommend Skinny Dipping with Murder by Auralee Wallace, I mean laugh out loud funny, completely and utterly one of the funniest cozy mysteries I have ever read. I think this series is a must read for those who want a light and funny cozy, with outlandish characters and adventures.

You can find Skinny Dipping with Murder on Amazon by clicking here.

Welcome to Otter Lake, where the relaxing, restorative atmosphere is to die for.

Erica Bloom is in no rush to return to Otter Lake, the site of her mother's spiritual retreat for women. Erica met her inner goddess years ago and she's happy to have forged a new identity on her own, thank you very much. But her new-age-y, well-meaning mother is losing her grip on the business, and needs Erica's help. So she heads back to her New Hampshire hometown, where nothing much has changed-except for maybe the body in the well...

These books are about finding the joy in the journey, something I think we all forget about sometimes and these books bring a smile to my face at the remembrance of both these very different but very enjoyable Island reads....

Now let's see what my Amigos have picked for you today....

For Mary's Pick please click here...

For Lisa's pick please click here...

Thank you so much for joining us this summer. I hope you have enjoyed our Three Amigos Summer Reading Club. I know I am going to miss it! We would all love to hear from you so please leave us a comment on our blogs letting us know what you thought, how you are and what you are reading! 

I love having you here for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery and I look forward to sharing more with you daily tomorrow. 

I love hearing from you so please consider leaving me a comment below or emailing me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Buy A Friend A Book Day Suggestions!

August 31st is fast approaching and I have some cozy suggestions for you of books you can purchase and give to friends! I love this new-ish holiday. I have participated the last three years and I have joined a swap with friends this year on Elfster which lets the friends create a wish list of books. When you have friends like I do who read constantly it is often hard to choose a book for them that they may not have already read so this year Elftster is a God Send!

For those of you who may not be familiar with Buy A Friend A Book Day this is a fun day where you simply buy a book you think a friend would like on August 31st and give or send it to them. This holiday event is meant as a fun way to share a love of books and reading with others. You can purchase on line (with free shipping) from The Book Depository to send to friends far away or you can purchase a book at a small independent book store (Which is also a very good idea!) and then give it to your friends.

If you are stuck on ideas of great cozy mysteries to purchase for friends I have more then a few suggestions here on my blog and you can find reviews and photos of all the books I have read and reviewed in the tabs at the top of my blog!

To get you started here are a few of my favorite suggestions of series I hope you will not only read yourself but perhaps gift a friend:

Duffy Brown's Cycle Path Mystery Series 
Terrie Farley Moran's Read Em' and Eat Mystery Series (with recipes from yours truly in the back!) 
Victoria Hamilton's A Teapot Collector Mystery Series (notes and information about the enjoyment of tea from yours truly can also be found inside!)
Ellery Adam's Book Retreat Series 
Lucy Arlington A Novel Idea Series
Lorna Barrett's A Booktown Mystery Series 
Krista Davis A Domestic Diva Mystery  or her Paws and Claws Mystery Series
Victoria Hamilton's Merry Muffin Mystery Series 
Susan Furlong's Georgia Peach Mystery Series
Miranda Jame's Cat in The Stacks Mystery Series 
Kathi Daley Zoe Donovan Mystery Series, Whales and Tales Mystery Series and Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery Series
Vicki Vass (Anything this lady writes I love!)
Auralee Wallace- Otter Lake Mystery Series 
Kathleen Bridge A Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery 

Paranormal Series Recommendations:

Heather Blake's Wishcraft Series 

Joyce and Jim Lavene (ANY THING THEY HAVE EVER WRITTEN I highly recommend) 

Juliet Blackwell Witchcraft Mystery Series 
Carol J Perry Witch City Mystery Series
Victoria Laurie A Psychic Eye Mystery 

First in series this year that I thought were outstanding:
Laura Bradford's Elcair and Present Danger 
Julia Buckley A Dark and Stormy Murder
Vicki Vass Gem Hunter
Amanda Flower Crime and Poetry
Nikki LeClair Haunting Me
Judy Volt  Asiago and the Accomplice 
Jenny Kales On The Chopping Block 

Poetry, may I recommend the southern styling's of Patricia Neeley-Dorsey 

I hope you enjoyed just some of my favorite books and series suggestions and that you may consider joining me in celebrating Buy A Friend A Book Day this August 31st!
Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery suggestion for buy a friend a book day! 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 Cup of Tea And A Visit With Duffy Brown Author Of Breaking For Bodies

Breaking For Bodies by Duffy Brown came out earlier this month and this second in series I was so excited for. The cover is so very inviting don't you think?

I asked Duffy to share a bit about her motivation for writing this wonderful series and I am so thrilled she stopped by for tea!

KMOT: The characters are so funny in this series, how did you come to write such humor into each of them, it is like there is sarcasm in the fudge!

DB: Love the sarcasm in the fudge line! Terrific! Thank you for that. It’s going in a book!

The problem is I cannot not write humor. It just pops out in the book and in my real life as well. I used to write romance and the editors hated that I put in so much humor. Takes away from the falling in love they said. They said my books sounded more like a cozy mystery. So I took the hint, gave up writing romance and took up the cozies…best decision ever!!

KMOT: Do you have and ride your own bike? I love the idea of this Island get away.

DB: I do have a bike! And when I went to Mackinac Island my daughter and I took our bikes over on the ferry…that’s the only way to get there unless you fly a puddle-jumper from the mainland. For a week we rode all over the island. There are a ton of paths through the middle of the island and with no cars it’s bikers paradise. You have to watch out for the horses but there are no horns, no traffic jams, no traffic lights. You just park your bike at the curb and go eat or drink or shop. It was fantastic…and I was in the best shape of my life after peddling all those hills!

KMOT: How long was the writing process for breaking for bodies?

DB: It takes me about three months. I’m a slow writer but the humor does take time to work into the book. The way this book thing works is that an author is always working on three books at once…the books he/she is writing, the one that is out and needs to be promoted, and the book he/she is planning next. So much goes into this business. But the best part of writing is the readers!! They are the best. I’ve met some of my very best friends though writing. Readers rock!

KMOT: When you write is it lots of coffee, tea, soda or other you consume? Where does your energy come from?

DB: I eat. I’m totally a stress eater. When I’m trying to work out a plot point I gain five pounds. So sad.  I think the munching soothes my brain. I’ve been known to down a whole box of Honey-nut Cheerios in one sitting. Oink. Somehow carrots don’t work as well. I can’t keep cookies in the house. I’d weigh five-hundred pounds if I kept cookies around.

KMOT: I love Irish Donna, is she based on anyone in real life?

DB:Not really, she just sort of came to me. I wanted a feisty gal and someone a wee bit superstitions seemed like fun. And her husband with the roving-eye seemed like a fit for more humor. I love the sarcastic humor and back humor is always a treat. We all need to laugh more.

Evie Bloomfield puts the pedal to the metal in the latest Cycle Path mystery from the national bestselling author of "Geared for the Grave." Moving from Los Angeles to small, picturesque Mackinac Island to work in a bike shop might seem crazy, but Evie knows it s the best decision she s ever made. That s not to say she s gotten rid of all her stress; after all, the upcoming Lilac Festival has everyone in town riding in circles. But things really go downhill when a ferry full of tourists including Evie s friend Fiona s former boss, the editor of a sleazy rag in LA arrives on the island. No one knows why Peephole Perry came all the way to Mackinac, but things aren t looking good for Fiona when Peep is found dead. Now Evie has to gear up and get a grip on the truth if she wants to clear her friend s name..."

Breaking bodies is out now and should be on every table! Thank you to Duffy Brown for joining me for tea today and I hope you all get a chance to pick up this wonderful series!

Duffy is queen of swag! She has kindly offered to give one of my readers one of her famous tote bags! So if you would like a chance to win one please enter by leaving a comment below or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com with "Duffy" in the subject line! Contest open from today April 22- 29th. Winner will be selected at random and Duffy will mail the bag directly to you.
Contest void where prohibited!
Thank you for joining us for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery. I would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Wow! What A Ride! Duffy Brown's Braking For Bodies Took My Breath Away Literally!

For the second time this year, I finished a book out of breath and heart racing. Is it a coincidence the last book that did that to me was the first book in Duffy Brown's Cycle Path Mystery Series?  Both books Geared for the Grave and now April 5th's release of Braking for Bodies have left me with my heart a racing. By chapter 15 I actually had to get up and find my inhaler. I am pretty sure I stopped breathing while I read, really who needs to go to the gym?

Duffy Brown's series is set in a truly picturesque cozy town, an Island no less, of Mackinac Island. I had never heard of this place before I read these books but I tell you by chapter 2, I was ready to pack up everything I own and open a tea shop there.

This series has some of the best one liners and in Braking Bodies, I was laughing out loud, holding my breath ( a little too much) and turning the pages so fast! There are "ooh's", there are "ah's" there are "Oh my God's" and there are "Wow's in this book that will make your head spin! Smart one liners and characters to make your heart smile.

The first book was exhilarating, as I said in my review of Geared for the Grave, I have never wanted to high five a character more. In Breaking for Bodies, I could not even catch my breath. When I turned the last page I was in awe and I was anxious! I am hoping that there will be a third book in this series out soon! My blood pressure is still high as I write this review, I only hope that I will dream about this series and story tonight so that I do not have to end my time on Mackinac Island or my time with Evie, Fiona, Molly, Irish Donna. I love a series with so many strong and vivacious female characters, don't you?

I am very excited to for all of you to read and fall in love with this story and series. I also can not wait to hear what you all think. Now when I tell people I am dreaming of the Island, you will know it is this Island and not some tropical paradise, who needs paradise when you have friends, a cool bike shop and an island full of fudge!

" Moving from Los Angeles to small, picturesque Mackinac Island to work in a bike shop might seem crazy, but Evie knows it s the best decision she s ever made. That s not to say she s gotten rid of all her stress; after all, the upcoming Lilac Festival has everyone in town riding in circles. But things really go downhill when a ferry full of tourists including Evie s friend Fiona s former boss, the editor of a sleazy rag in LA arrives on the island. No one knows why Peephole Perry came all the way to Mackinac, but things aren t looking good for Fiona when Peep is found dead. Now Evie has to gear up and get a grip on the truth if she wants to clear her friend s name..."

To order your own copy of Breaking For Bodies from The Book Depository please click here.
To order book one Geared for the Grave please click here. 
Visit Duffy on line by clicking here. 
Thank you for joining me this Easter Sunday 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 March 19th-26th

Boy oh boy where has the month gone? What a wild week this has been. Sadly Spring Break for us is ending Tuesday and I shall miss the reprieve. I am counting the days until summer break for sure. I think I am the most excited person when school is done for the year.

This week had it's ups and it's downs. While I have been trying to promote the cozy community in whole and recommending that each person who reads also reviews I thought it might be fun to take a photo with a few of my favorite books piled on my table. My photos had the effect I was looking for and made me so happy. As I was editing the photos for my blog my curious kitten Mia manged to some how knock over a pile on to my candle which I did not sadly notice in time.

  Heart broken but thrilled that I was only 2 feet away, there was one casualty that I am truly heart sick about and it seems to be out of print. It was one of my first cozy mysteries I ever read, I am now looking to replace it.   If you have not read Ellen Byerrum's Crime of Fashion Mysteries they were one of my first series and one of my favorites. This was my favorite of the entire series as I said before so I am a tad sad.

New on my table this week some of April's most amazing series. Duffy Brown's Braking For Bodies (which the review will be up Sunday) was such a wild ride, Ellery Adams Breach of Crust, Connie Archer's A Clue in the Sew, Susan Furlong's Rest In Peach, Amanda Flower's Crime and Poetry and I am currently reading Dawn Eastman's An Unhappy Medium. These books are out April 5th.

Out in June, I finished Sheila Connolly's book as well this week and I think you will enjoy book 7 in this series.

I shall leave you here and thank you for joining me for a week in review, It is a good thing our kitten culprit is cute!  Lifting my Caramel Black Tea cups and toasting you all.

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery week in review.

Got A Cozy Series? I have found a cookie cutter for that!

Today I wanted to share an Etsy shop I recently found that has cookie cutters that they print with a 3D printer.

As I have just finished the Lucy Arlington Cozy called Off The Books, I was drawn to this cookie cutter shape and can see myself making these cookies and icing them with yellow icing in honor of the Vespa in the Novel Idea Mystery Series. Offered by KayKayLine Etsy shop at  $9.90 US this cookie cutter also embosses the cookie for easy decorating. 

I am so looking forward to Duffy Brown's next Cycle Path Mystery Book  Breaking For Bodies out April 5th and this Bicycle Cookie would look fab with my book and tea! Click here to see the cookie cutter listing.

And here to order Duffy's new book 

For the Teapot Collector's Series by Amanda Cooper, I found a teapot cutter I just loved!

I think the little dots are adorable don't you? Click here to see this listing.

I also just finished reading Kernel of Truth by Kristi Abbot so this Popcorn themed cutter jumped out at me!

This book came out March 1st and was such a fun read! Click here to learn more about this series. 

There are more then 40 pages of cookie cutters that have been created using a 3D printer offered in KayKayLine Etsy shop it is truly worth the look! Click here to visit the Etsy shop and be sure to let me know what you think there are at least 4 other series I could mention that have cookie cutters I think match but perhaps I will save them for another post! 

Thank you for joining me for A cup of tea and an etsy shop review. I look forward to sharing more ideas and review with you soon. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com