Lorraine Bartlett's A Reel Catch

I purchased and have been looking forward to Lorraine Bartlett's book 4 in the Lotus Bay Mystery Series. I pre ordered my Amazon kindle edition, and spent the week in Lotus Bay. Loving this series as I do it was not a book I wanted to end. I wanted to spend as much time as I could with Kathy and Tori. I am so excited that the Swan's Nest Inn is about to open, that tourist season is about to begin in Lotus Bay and I was so thrilled to see what the friends have been upto. I love the relationships, the history and the struggles in A Reel Catch. A great read and I one I am hoping you will take a chance on too! This one is out now.

Though it's not yet summer, things are heating up on Lotus Bay.Swans Nest Inn is about to open, and Kathy Grant solicits her BFF, Tori Cannon, to help spruce up her property at the marshy end of Lotus Bay, only they didn’t count on finding a body. Who was he? What’s his connection to their friend Paul Darcy? Meanwhile, two entrepreneurs with vast business ties are interested in helping Tori reopen the Lotus Lodge, and their real motives are as murky as the bay after a storm. Will Swans Nest open on time? Will the Lotus Lodge reopen at all?

Find this great read on Amazon, like I did 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 December 29th-January 6th

A week has gone by and what a week it has been, new year, new tea and new teacup rescue for me. I was finally feeling better this week and headed to my local Murchie's Tea shop to stock up on my favorite blend and discovered their Balmoral Blend which is such a lovely blend of black teas with a soft malty flavor which is perfect for afternoon tea.

The tea shop is near two second hand stores so I stopped into both having no car with me and was delighted to find a long sought after toast holder, silver and only $5! The china shop that I go to had a half price sale as well and I got the lovely Royal Albert Cup, Saucer and bread and butter plate for $16! A truly great find, and a fun way to spend some of my Christmas money!

I have bought the Witches Spell-A- Day Almanac for about 5 years now, I love reading this book, some lovely sentiments in this book, something I find apply and some don't but I enjoy the read and the history in this book year after year. Happy to have found it just before the new year again.

Just arrived on my table Friday is two of the books in the Terry Lynn Thomas series The Spirit of Grace which I have been looking forward too for so long! I have a few more to get through before I can start these but I am delighted to have them peaking out at me from my TBR pile.

Tomorrow I have my review of Tonya Kappes upcoming cozy Six Feet Under, this is a series that I really enjoy and I am looking forward to sharing this with you tomorrow.

I had a very busy week of reading and I read and shared my review of The Cat of The Baskervilles by Vicki Delany another great story in this series and my favorite so far! This one is out in a few weeks and I recommend it!

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell was a first in series I read earlier this week and loved! I like where this story went and I cannot wait to see where it goes next! One to watch for! 

One of two cozy shorts I read this week. I bought myself this one from Lorraine Bartlett earlier this week and read it. I love it when you find just the right book for the moment and it makes your spirit soar! I loved this book and the Lotus Bay mystery series. I hope we see more from it soon!

All I wanted was a Drink by Michelle Ann Holstein was the other holiday short I read. This was funny, smart and very well done. A great way to end the holidays on my end. 

Monday I will have for you the review of Class Reunions are Murder, I really did not want this one to end. Very well done and I am anxious to share the review with you all on Monday. I still have book hangover from it! Such a great read.

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

Christmas at Swans Nest by Lorraine Bartlett

New Years Eve I bought myself Christmas at Swans Nest from Amazon.ca. I love Lorraine Bartlett and the Lotus Bay Series, this is book three and it is the perfect holiday short cozy mystery. I find that with each of the stories I read from Lorraine my heart grows for each and every character she writes. The best friend due of Kathy and Tori is one I could totally relate to. Through all these girls go through you cannot help but be thrilled when things start to go so much better for Kathy! Makes one wish they too could be snowed in at Christmas and a mysterious treasure hunt to go on! Great read and very cozy indeed!  A Holiday Must Read, even after the big day!

The holidays are fast approaching, and Kathy Grant is hard at work on the renovations of her soon-to-be bed and breakfast. An unexpected winter storm disrupts her friends’ plans, and it looks like her B&B will have to open a little early. And then there are the cryptic notes that hint of a treasure to be found somewhere in the house. Will Kathy and her friends find a cache of cash?

You can find Christmas at Swan's Nest 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 March 11th-18th

This week I have enjoyed sharing with you some of my favorite series paired with my favorite Green Cups for St. Patrick's day and some new reads as well. Sunday I shared with you Gone with the Twins by Kylie Logan, a good read for sure. With a Southern Twist and a mystery you will love this one is out now and one I recommend picking up.

Not to be missed and such a deal to have, Lorraine Bartlett has kindly put together some of her best work in a cozy sampler to savor! Click here to be directed to the Cozy Chicks Blog and get it free while you can! 

May Can not come fast enough for fans of the Tourist Trap Mystery Series. I could not believe my good luck to be able to read this so early! Mark your calendars for Lynn Cahoon's Hospitality and Homicide.

Book Four in the Coffee and Ghosts series on my table this week as well. I had the hardest time putting this book and series down. A great cozy short series!

Edited Out comes out in May and this was a book I really got into . This should be on your to be read list for sure!
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

Lorraine Bartlett's A Cozy Mystery Sampler! Download yours now!

On Saturday I shared that I found one of my most favorite Authors Lorraine Bartlett, has a limited time offer teaser of some of her amazing writing works currently free to download.  Lorraine, is an author who I strongly admire, and in always in awe of. This offer is a portfolio of delight! If you have yet to discover Lorraine's many series (she even writes under a view variations of this name) you simply must click this link to the Cozy Chicks Blog and download this for yourself. There are some of my most favorite stories their to temped you and her recipes to enjoy. So much of Lorraine is in these books and I hope you will come to discover as I have just how amazing she truly is.

This is a sampler of  books written by Lorraine Bartlett. Including the opening chapters of the Victoria Square Mysteries (including the cookbook), the Lotus Bay Mysteries, and the Tales of Telenia adventure-fantasy series and so much more.Click here for the original post on the Cozy Chicks Blog for the download information.
Happy Reading! Tell your friends! 
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

Dead, Bath, and Beyond by Lorraine Bartlett

I love the cover of Lorraine Bartlett's new book Dead, Bath and Beyond. This is the December 6th upcoming release of the latest Victorian Square Mystery, book number 4. I very much enjoyed this story and I think you will too! Katie Bonner, main character is very likable and admirable. One of the things I like about this series and story is how Katie really has started her life over, found some solid footing after fate had dealt her a terrible hand and even gets a moment of revenge! Unfortunately shortly after that small victory an untimely death throws another mystery in her lap, one that could have the most dire of consequences!  I enjoyed the way this story was written and researched, I found I was caught up in the circumstances of the big reveal and relieved that Katie was safe, with a good cozy feel good ending not to miss.

Katie Bonner—owner of Artisans Alley in the quaint shopping district of Victoria Square—feels like nothing can spoil her perfect day off, sailing Lake Ontario with her good friend and lawyer Seth Landers. Then she runs into her ex-boss Jake on the dock. It was never smooth sailing with Josh, and Katie is only too happy to get away from him as he makes a scene. Unfortunately, the next day her unpleasant former employer is found drowned in a bathtub at a bed-and-breakfast in Victoria Square. Who would pull the plug on Josh? When an autopsy reveals lake water—not bath water—in his lungs, Katie quickly finds herself in over her head. She’ll need to race to find the killer before her business and her freedom both go down the drain…

To order your own copy of Dead, Bath, and Beyond from Amazon please click here.
Learn more about Lorraine Bartlett and all her wonderful series 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

Cat Got Your Diamonds by Julie Chase

I finished a brilliant cozy last night! Cat Got Your Diamonds by Julie Chase which was such a great read I could not put it down, read the entire thing, laughing, crying and thoroughly enjoying this new cozy.  This book read so well, reminding me of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, I loved the relationship between the main character Lacy and detective Jack Oliver. I don't want to give too much of the story away however the writing reminds me of why I love cozies in the first place. The book reminded me of how I felt the first time I fell in love with The Book Town Mystery series by one of my most favorite authors Lorraine Bartlett, the way Julie Chase wrote Cat Got Your Diamonds has that same magical chemistry that made me want to read word after word and not wanting it to end. Julie Chase has a great first in series and this one is on track to become one of my most favorite series.
 I loved the idea of this series, great concept, fun characters, fantastic back story and did I mention how much I love the cover? The Kitty Couture Mystery Series is one you will need to put on your TBR pile for sure, make sure you move it close to the top, you wont be disappointed.

Grandeur and opulence are everything in the famed New Orleans Garden District where pets are family and no bling is too big. Opening Furry Godmother, pet boutique and organic treat bakery, is Lacy Marie Crocker's dream come true - until the glitter gun used to make her Shih Tzu tutus becomes a murder weapon. And Lacy becomes public enemy #1.Now Detective Jack Oliver is hounding Lacy, and her Furry Godmother investor wants out before his name is tarnished by association. To make matters worse, a string of jewel heists with suspicious ties to the murder case has New Orleans residents on edge. To save her dream, Lacy must take a stand, put her keen eyes to work, and unravel what really happened at her shop that night. But can Lacy sniff out the killer cat burglar in time to get her tail-raising designs on the catwalk?

I honestly thought that Julie Chase was one of my favorite authors in disguise, however turns out Julie Chase is a very talented author in her own right. Learn more about her and this November 15th release by clicking here. I can not wait for her next book out in Spring of 2017!
Order your copy of Cat Got Your Diamonds 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 April 9th-16th

This week I have had some lovely new things on my table. New teapot and teacup shaped tea light holders, and a few new reads! Friday morning, I received word I had been approved to Tonya Kappes book Fixin To Die.

Thursday night I finished Nightmares can be Murder by Mary Kennedy.

Wednesday night I spent readin Lorraine Bartlett's A Dream Weekend.

Monday I reviewed The Calamity Cafe  by Gayle Leeson, this one you are sure to love, out in June!

Sunday I reviewed another June release, Tea Cups and Carnage. Lynn Cahoon has such a wonderful series and I am so excited to have read this one!

My sister in law gave me my birthday present early, one of which I shared on Steeped in Tradition this week. I have wanted a shamrock themed teacup and saucer since finding out about my Irish heritage last year, this pretty cup and saucer is really the crown jewel of my collection.
I have so enjoyed this weeks tea, cozies and gifts. I have also been hard at work trying my hand at writing for the first time in a while, I am hoping that this continues and that shortly I will have a cozy of my own to share with all of you.
Thank you for stopping 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

A Dream Weekend by Lorraine Bartlett, A Short Story You Wont Soon Forget!

"What, No! It can't be over!" were my thoughts when I finished Lorraine Bartlett's new short story A Dream Weekend, A tale from Blythe Cove Manor. Oh the feels in this short story!

Serious life changes have pushed Paige and Alex Campbell to the brink of divorce. Still, they win a weekend at lovely Blythe Cove Manor and experience vivid dreams that take them back in time. Is there a chance this magical place inspires the nighttime fantasies that could help them fall in love again?

44 pages, that is it that is all and what wonderful words fill these pages to form a story that is sure to stay with you and a mystery of what is yet to come for Blythe Cove Manor. As always I am in awe od Lorraine's Talent and story telling abilities. If you do not yet follow Lorraine and get her news letter may in invite you please to www.lorrainebartlett.com and encourage you to sign up!  Of all my purchases this week this one is by far my most favorite way to spend my hard earned money! 
You can click here to visit Amazon.ca or Amazon.com and order your own e copy today. 
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

Great AMAZON.COM Deals To Be Had!

Well Read Then Dead is currently offered on Amazon for $1.99!  This first in series was one I so enjoyed and book three is coming out later this summer! Click here for the amazon listing.
Terrie Farley Moran's series is one I hope you will enjoy and I have a recipe for scones in book two I know you will love!

One I just ordered for myself is Lorraine Bartlett's A Dream Weekend! I can not wait to read and review this one, currently on sale for 99 cents in the USA and in Canada. USA Click here.
Canada click here. Don't you love the cover?

I hope to finish up Nightmares Can Be Murder and review it with you soon!
Get these deals while you can and be sure to let me know what you think!
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery today. I would love to hear from yous o please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

L.L. Bartlett Murder On The Mind, Why did I wait so long to read this?

Well I honestly am not sure why I took so long to read this paranormal mystery by L.L.Bartlett (Lorraine Bartlett, Lorna Barrett) Once I downloaded it, I could not put it down!

"After a brutal mugging in Manhattan leaves him with a broken arm and fractured skull, insurance investigator Jeff Resnick reluctantly agrees to recover at the home of his estranged half brother, Richard. At first, Jeff believes his graphic nightmares of a slaughtered buck are just the workings of his traumatized mind. But when a local banker is found in the same condition, Jeff believes the attack has left him with a sixth sense--an ability to witness murder before it happens. Piecing together clues he saw in his visions, Jeff attempts to solve the crime. His brother Richard is skeptical, but unsettling developments begin to forge a tentative bond. Soon, things that couldn't be explained by premonition come to light, and Jeff finds himself probing into dangerous secrets that touch his own traumatic past in wintry Buffalo--and the killer is ready to eliminate Jeff's visions permanently."

I am usually weary of male main characters but I was so drawn in by the writing and even though some would argue that this is not a cozy mystery it left me with the cozy feeling. 

I love a book that surprises me and catches me off guard. This was immensely enthralling and a series I feel I could really get into! 

To read L.L. Bartlett's Murder on the Mind and find out more about this series please visit amazon by clicking here.  

Learn more about L.L. Bartlett, Loraine Bartlett, Lorna Barrett by visiting her website by clicking here.

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

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 

Who Are The 5 Authors You Would Love To Sit Down To Tea With?

A little over a year ago I posed the question of If you could have any 5 authors to tea who would they be and why?

It is a simple question with endless possibilities and something I will admit I have spent a great deal of time thinking about. I have a I will admit picked several sets of 5 to entertain if I could and I even know what I would serve! Honestly to sit down with any combination of cozy mystery authors would be a delight. I would invite all of my favorites and I am pretty sure I would have enough tea cups and saucers for them as well!

If I could put together the perfect tea party in sets of 5 for a tea party with me I would love to have so many authors who I would love to thank personally for how their work profoundly influenced my life: There are however more then a dozen I would love to have come to tea.  I did not realize when it comes down to naming names just how hard and how much fun it would be to host so many wonderful authors in sets of 5.

For this post and in no particular order the first set of five,  I would add would be Lorraine Barrlett ( by any of her names) for it was her Book Town Mystery Series that really brought me to love this genre of cozy mysteries. Next to her would be Ellery Adams, I really was enchanted by her Charmed Pie Shop Mysteries first and then came to love her new Book Retreat Mysteries, then would come Heather Blake her witchy tales and even her romance books are among some of my most favorite. beside her Amanda Cooper (by any of her names also) so we could discuss her Teapot Collector Series in person and rhen Terrie Farley Moran from the Read Em and Eat Mystery series.

At Table two I would put Joyce and Jim Lavene, Hannah Read ( by any of her names as well) Miranda James( By any of his names as well) Lucy Arlington( by any of her names though Ellery is at table one, so Susan Furlong would have to sit in as she is also so amazing)

Then table three would be Krista Davis, Christy Fifield, Melissa Bourbon, Juliet Blackwell and Eva Gates( by any other name as well) . I admit this exercise is harder then I would expect it to have been even for make believe, I wonder if in real life these Authors know or even all like each other but more importantly I wonder what they would all talk about...such a fun thing to think about. I imagine myself flitting between tables refilling cups and sharing some of my most favorite recipes with each of them.

I think it is fun to imagine what it would be like to sit down and talk with all of these amazing authors and so many I have not mentioned here but would love to have come to tea. I feel like I have already in many ways as I have welcomed them all many times to my tea table.
So I would love to know who you would invite to your tea table for 6, the 5 authors you would pair and why. Leave me a comment below or email me for fun. This exercise is not to leave anyone out and just for fun. I would be honored to host any cozy mystery author, blogger or any of you for tea anytime. I thank you so much for joining me here today and hope to hear what you think as well.
Enjoy your day. Sip your tea and imagine along with me...until tomorrow.

You Are Invited To Tea Time With The Cozy Chicks

I am so excited to Welcome to the table today The Cozy Chicks and their new book Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with some of your most favorite authors for tea? Today some of my most favorite cozy mystery authors have come to share about a their new book and let you know about their wonderful blog. Please welcome the Cozy Chicks as my guest bloggers today.

Tea parties have been around for well over 3,000 years. People on all parts of the earth have tea parties every day. So sit down, pour yourself a cup of tea, and let me tell you about Tea Time With the Cozy Chicks.

First of all who are the Cozy Chicks? If you haven’t visited our blog before, please pop by http://www.cozychicksblog.com. It’s a great way to get to know us and to catch a glimpse at the crazy life of a mystery writer. The Cozy Chicks are…Ellery Adams, Lorraine Bartlett, Duffy Brown, Kate Collins, Mary Kennedy, Mary Jane Maffini, Maggie Sefton, Leann Sweeney.

We write cozy mysteries and in our books characters often gather around the table to discuss cases. They drink a staggering amount of caffeinated beverages and seem to be surrounded by an endless array of mouth-watering sandwiches, cookies, pastries, and chocolate. In short, these gals in our books have a pretty good time…unless they're chasing the killer...and we thought it would be fun to spend a little time in their world.

The result is Tea Time With The Cozy Chicks filled with the lore of tea in so many of its incarnations. The book offers an assortment of tea parties like how to have a Bon Voyage tea, bachelorette tea, proper Yorkshire Tea, Chocolate Lovers tea etc. There are menus for each party, invitation suggestions, decorations, flowers, table settings, recipes galore and all hosted by characters from our books to add to the fun.

An afternoon tea party is suitable for many celebrations and isn't as involved as a dinner party. Often a tea party can be the answer to friends just getting together. It's an ideal format for a simple elegant party where the food is prepared before your guests arrive and is either presented buffet style, or by passing plates of goodies at the table. The best thing about a tea party is that the only thing you need to serve is the tea itself, leaving you plenty of time to relax and enjoy your guests.

There is more in Tea Time With the Cozy Chicks than just tea parties. There are ideas on tea paring, tea towels, antique teapots and cups, reading tea leaves and the book even offers suggestions on blending your own teas like:

Floral Fantasy Tea

Ingredients

1 teaspoon lavender

1 teaspoon yarrow

½ teaspoon chamomile

½ teaspoon stevia

Spiced Anise Tea

Ingredients

2 teaspoons anise hyssop

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon vanilla bean

¼ teaspoon cloves

Devoted Remembrance Tea

Ingredients

2 teaspoons rosemary

2 teaspoons lavender

2 teaspoons marjoram

1 teaspoon anise hyssop

Dark Rose Tea

Ingredients

2 teaspoons rose hips

1 teaspoon anise hyssop

2 teaspoons yarrow

1 teaspoon bergamot mint

So tell us about your favorite tea. Do you have a special blend for the summer and one for winter? A tea for when you’re sick or have a cold? Tell us about your tea and we’ll give away two adorable teapot measuring tapes from the answers.

To enter to win please leave a comment below about your favorite tea blends and visit The Cozy Chick website by clicking here. 
Thank you to the Cozy Chicks for stopping by to share their recipes and up coming release with us today!

To Pre Order your own copy of Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks please click the links below:
Kindle
Kindle World Wide
Kobo
Nook
ibooks

Thank you to The Cozy Chicks for stopping by for tea with us today and thank you for joining in the fun. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com