Dead Girl Blues by Joyce and Jim Lavene, I Could Not Put This Down!

I was sent an early copy of Joyce and Jim Lavene's  Dead Girl Blues from their new Taxi for the Dead series and I could not put it down. I started it after dinner last night and burned the midnight oil to finish it. It was fantastic.

Though some would argue that this paranormal mystery is not a true cozy I would have to disagree with them. This book has so many cozy elements and qualities that make it as endearing as the many "true cozies" and other paranormal cozy series I currently read. True, likeable and loveable characters along with excellent writing give it the right balance and charm. This is a series you are going to want to read this spring! Click here to pre order your Kindle Copy, Dead Girl Blues by Joyce and Jim Lavene comes out April 7th 2015.

Read Undead by Morning first in the series and learn more  by clicking here.
Book 1 Broken Hearted Goul by clicking 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

Assault and Pepper First In The New Spice Shop Mystery Series Is Sensational!

I just finished readin Assault and Pepper tonight. A first in a new series by Leslie Budewitz. A Spice Shop Mystery set in Seattle's Famous Public Market. This is a wonderfully descriptive and captivating story.

 

I was drawn to this book by it's cover, having first seen it on a Facebook Page I follow called Chatting About Cozies I pre ordered the book like I do so many based on the cover, can you blame me? Look at that lovely shop set up and the tea pots!

 

As pretty as the cover is the story and the descriptions which accurately describe Seattle and the tantalizing spices and foods discussed make this a foodies dream series!

The book has a very believable setting, rich and diverse characters and a very good mystery. A great recipe for what I hope will be a long running series. Living as close to Seattle as I do this shop was a fun read for me after years of reading East Coast and Southern based cozies it was nice to find a little a little of that cozy feeling so close to home. I should also mention that the bonus recipes in the back of the book are also fantastic!

To find out more about Assault and Pepper or to order your own copy please click here
I look forward to another Spice Shop Mystery and hope we don't have to wait too soon!
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

We Have A Winner!

We have a winner! Terri Crossley is the winner of the T-shirt and Book Give away! Her entry was selected at random from the number of entries received and she has been notified by email.

Terri receives the first installment in the read em' and eat series and a t-shirt to match! Thank you to all who entered!

I am so excited for the release of Caught Read Handed and will bring you more info about it as we get closer! Thank you To Terrie Farley Moran for sponsoring this give away! To order your own copy of Caught Read Handed please 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

A Cup Of Tea A Cozy Mystery And A Rag Quilt I Made

I am a crafty person but I am the type of crafter I call an "impatient crafter" That means if it takes longer then an hour start to finish I am not likely to try it. However I have wanted to make a quilt for a long time and friends encouraged me to try to make a rag quilt.

A rag quilt is a very easy quilt to make and normal sewers can get it done in one night, me it took a few weeks. But there is something very therapeutic in ripping up flannel!

Truth be told the hardest part of making this quilt was the "ragging" of each square and the fact that I kept falling asleep under the warm and wonderful layers while I went...

One side of the quilt is Rose Buds & Cream Flannel and the other is a very fun Tea Pot print flannel that I paired with bright orange flannel.

I watched this tutorial to figure out how to make my quilt and this was very easy to follow. I really liked this tutorial and I will make another but will buy some Ragging Shears first!
Thank you to my friends Cheryl and Greta for their support in making this quilt!
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

Murder Ties The Knot Another Fantastic Haunted Souvenir Shop Mystery By Christy Fifield

I discovered the Haunted Souvenir Shop Mystery series at my Library about two years ago. Spinning the rack for inspiration I happened upon the first in series called Murder Buys A T-Shirt by Christy Fifield. I took a chance on it and I am so glad I did as this is a fantastic series.

Proving that "Libraries do sell books" (thank you to Lisa K for that comment!) I no sooner closed the book on Murder Buys a T-shirt then I ran to order the next in series and that has continued right up to Murder Ties The Knot.

I can not say enough about this series. It has deep and wonderful characters, great recipes and the cozy mystery pet is a Parrot, seriously amazing, foul mouthed and yet a wonderful addition to the stories!

In this latest installment the sub plots are as important if not more significant then the mystery it's self. Which normally I would say takes away from the story it's self but in this book it truly enhances and furthers the series in a very wonderful way

If you are looking for a great cozy series that is already 4 books in pick up Christy Fifiled's Haunted Mystery Series. You will be thrilled you did. Book Four Murder Ties the Knot is sensational! Click here to order with free shipping from The Book Depository!
To learn more about this series please 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

Cover Reveal and Contest For Caught Read-Handed by Terrie Farley Moran

Today I am thrilled to be one of the first bloggers to share with you the revised cozy cover of Caught Read-Handed by Terrie Farley Moran The above image is the New and Improved Cozy cover for the much anticipated second Read Em' and Eat Mystery due out in just 125 more days!

 I am so very excited to share this cover release with you and Terrie has also provided a fun T-shirt give away to get us geared up for the release of Caught Read- Handed.  
To enter the contest to win this t-shirt email me here at karenmowen@gmail.com with READ in the subject line for your chance to win! Contest is open March 4th to March 11th 2015 Contest Open to our North American Readers and void where not allowed. *Winner will be chosen at random from entries received.
Thank you Terrie for this fun give away and for getting us so excited for the release of Caught Read Handed I am so excited for the release and I hope you will join me in ordering this wonderful book.

I know there are some wonderful surprises in store for us in the Read 'Em And Eat Series, I can not wait to share more of them with you soon!
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

36 Days and Counting Until The Release of Amanda Cooper's Shadow Of A Spout!

Today I am thrilled to share my review of Shadow of a Spout by Amanda Cooper with all of you. First I would like to thank Amanda for sending me the Advanced Reading Copy and for allowing me to contribute to the back of the book. For more on what I contributed you will have to wait for the books release to see!  The above photo is my celebratory Tea and Macaron from one of my favorite places to stop for tea called C.C. Violin here in West Vancouver BC. It was a lovely coincidence when the flowers matched the Advanced Reading Copy Cover! I also included in the photo what the cover of Shadow of a Spout will look like.

I took the weekend to read through Shadow of a Spout and I loved it. It is a tea drinkers delight to find a series that fits so perfectly with your own interests and loves! The story takes place away from the small town of "GiGi" at a teapot collectors convention. The perfect weekend get-a-way in my opinion and something I long to do. I was so easily caught up in this story and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I was guessing right up until the end in this well written installment of the Tea Pot Collector Mystery and am so excited to find out what happens next! I can not wait until my order from The Book Depository Arrives in 36 days! The cover and series is fast becoming a favorite and I love how Amanda Cooper writes this book from so many character points of view! To order your own copy like I did from The Book Depository ( Which I Do because I love free shipping, the ability to pay with Pay Pal and getting my mail by Royal Mail) Please Click here.

I promised my followers on my Facebook page My Lemon Loaf Recipe:
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3  Large Eggs
 3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoon melted butter 
1 teaspoon Vanilla
 1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Instructions
Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Use a mixer to blend together the eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla,and lemon juice.
Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and blend until smooth..
Pour batter into a well greased 9x5-inch loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into center of the cake comes out clean.
Let sit 5 minutes before removing from the pan and slice and serve.


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