No Cats Allowed by Miranda James

I was selected to read Miranda James' No Cats Allowed before its release later this month. I was beside myself with excitement as this is one of my most favorite cozy mystery series. Our rescue cat Squirrel shown above came to live with us a little over two years ago as a result of reading this series, I was so moved by main character Charlie's rescue of Diesel, that we rescued Squirrel from our local SPCA.  Though like Diesel and Charlie I am not sure who rescued who and can not imagine our lives with out Squirrel the Cat. No Cats Allowed is a 2016 Must Read! 

Miranda James (Dean James) has a way of writing that had me so caught up in the story my own blood pressure rose along with Charlie's in this very intense addition of the Cat In The Stacks mystery series. The mystery and the side story lines had me caught up from page one and when I finally put the book down at the end I was relaxed and grinning from ear to ear.

"In the latest mystery in the "New York Times" bestselling Cat in the Stacks series, librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat Diesel must clear a friend when the evidence is stacked against her Springtime in Mississippi is abloom with beauty, but the library s employees are too busy worrying to stop and smell the flowers. The new library director, Elwyn Dillard, is a brash, unfriendly Yankee who s on a mission to cut costs and his first targets are the archive and the rare book collection. As annoying as a long-overdue book, Dillard quickly raises the hackles of everyone on staff, including Charlie s fiery friend Melba whom Dillard wants to replace with someone younger. But his biggest offense is declaring all four-legged creatures banned from the stacks. With enemies aplenty, the suspect list is long when Dillard s body is discovered in the library. But things take a turn for the worse when a threatening e-mail throws suspicion on Melba. Charlie is convinced that his friend is no murderer, especially when he catches sight of a menacing stranger lurking around the library. Now he and Diesel will have to read between the lines, before Melba is shelved under G for guilty "

Even our kitten Mia got into my tea shot the other morning, making her debut in the cutest of ways, Mia even looks a bit like the kitty on the cover. 
This story will have you  feeling all kinds of emotions, the writing is superb and the series is tremendous. Miranda James has a way with words, characters and stories that make you feel just like one of the family.
Learn more about this wonderful series by clicking here.
Order No Cats Allowed 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 us a commenth ere or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table and In My Cup January 30th February 6th

This week I did not fit in more then a couple of books on my table but I did try out a new to me tea from Davids tea. I had a craving for Irish Breakfast tea and picked up a small bag the other day. Friday morning with raisin scones fresh out of the oven and a perfectly steeped pot of Irish Breakfast tea, I had a lovely start to my 4 day weekend.

 I read and reviewed Plateful of Murder by Carole Fowkes this week, a very fun idea for a cozy and one you may just love!

Thursday I got the go ahead to read the ARC of No Cats Allowed and I will share my review tomorrow with you all. I was very excited to read this cozy from one of my most favorite series and I if you do not know Diesel and Charlie this is a series you are going to want to pick up and read through. One of the best cozy series I have ever read and one I look forward to year after year.
Monday my mail man is back from his vacation and I am hoping he will have a few packages for me to share with all of you.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by for tea this weekend and I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Plateful of Murder By Carole Fowkes A Cozy Review

I was sent Plateful of Murder by Carole Fowkes to read and review and it was a pleasing cozy mystery and a very novel idea for a series if you pardon the pun.
"Claire DeNardo is scared of a lot of things. Ordinary objects like roller coasters and men's hairpieces make her knees knock loud enough to be a band's rhythm section. Unfortunately, the only job Claire can find is working for her Uncle Gino in his seedy detective agency. Until now, her cases have all be middle-aged men with trophy wives who needed watching. But when Gino retires and leaves her in charge, Claire gets swept up in a murder case despite her fears. Both the client who hired her and the handsome police detective want her off the case. When the wrong person is charged, it's up to the terrified detective to summon all the courage she can to find the true killer."
 I  liked the idea of the main character being terrified of her actual job. The story was a bit of a roller-coaster with some nail biting moments and a bit of humor as well. I could identify with Claire and her nervousness as well as her never give up attitude. You could feel the connection to her Italian family through out the book and I think this was a fun start to a series. 

To order your own copy of Carole Fowkes Plateful of Murder 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.c

Crime & Poetry and My New Witchy Snowbabie Figure

I recently received my first Witch Snowbabies figure and I could not be happier with it. It is really a Wizard of Oz Collectible but when I saw that it was a Witch one I knew I had to have it! I love this little figure and their are two more Witches in the collection I one day hope to call my own as well. If you are new to my blog I am a big fan of paranormal witch cozies and  Snowbabies.  If they make a NASCAR one or Doctor Who I will order them too. What can I say I like to keep things weird and interesting I guess.

Yesterday my friend and fellow paranormal mystery author Heather Blake shared a new series that Amanda Flower has coming out called a Magical Bookshop Mystery and I immediately ordered it. This first in the series called Crime and Poetry is out in 60 days and I can not wait!  I ordered from the Book Depository as with the pathetic Canadian Dollar and the free shipping I still feel like I can splurge on myself every now and again. I want to make it very clear that I do get some books to read before they come out but most of the books I read and review are ones I buy for myself. This one is one I was not going to pass up! I mean it has a Cat on it, it is about a book store and it is magical, hook line and sinker I am a sucker for a great cover and this one I love. You can order a copy for yourself and read along with me by clicking here.

I think Squirrel would agree a magical tuxedo cat series is a great idea!  

Only a few months before I have this lovely book on my table and hopefully I can sit outside with my own two magical cats and enjoy this cozy mystery with a cup of tea.

As for my Witch Snowbabies figure you can it on Amazon by clicking here 
The Tea for Two Snowbabies, you can find by clicking 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

2 Fun Yarn Projects That Will Compliment Your Cozy Tea Table Just In Time For Valentines Day

I am reading my way through Plateful of Murder bby Carole Fowkes and trying to keep up with the whirling days, somehow it is February 3rd and Valentines Day is just around the corner. I have been so busy the last few days I have not had time to even sit and plan! But I found a few fun patterns to share and this fun free knitting pattern just in time for February 14th.

For those of you that are great with sticks check out this free pattern on loveknitting.com

You can never had to many tea cozies and this one is perfect for the fast approaching Valentines day!

If you are better with a hook check out this pattern shared on Hellocreativefamily.com 

I hope where ever you find yourself today you are warm and not with out a cozy!
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

Cat's, Tea, Photo Tip and Catch Up Day

It is the second day of February and I should have a review for you but I spend the day home, writing and cleaning and training the kitten how to play outside and come back. The photo above is Mia, our kitten outside yesterday.

Now here is the amazing painting of that first outside play on my outdoor tea table. Amazing right! 

Have you ever thought wow I would love to be able to paint what I see? I always thing that and I can't paint at all but I do know how to use and Iphone and a great free app!

In the App Store I downloaded SuperPhoto and it is fantastic. I can now make any of my favorite photos into something even more fun and special. I think it looks like the perfect cover of a cozy don't you?

Exciting news in the works I am also working with some wonderful authors on a new blog that is going to launch in March,don't worry you will still find me here daily but this one is going to be such a fun adventure and I hope you will come along! 

Okay back to reading now I hope to have a cozy review of Plateful of Murder by Carole Fowkes for you soon! 

Thank you for joining me for A Cup of Tea and A Cozy Mystery I look forward to sharing more with you again tomorrow! I would love to hear from you so please leave me your comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

A New Series To Get Excited For! Judy Volhart's Asiago and Accomplice First Book In The Whine & Cheese Cozy Mystery Series.

I have known about this series for months now and I am so excited for Canadian Author Judy Volhart. This Whine & Cheese Cozy Mystery Series is one you are going to be thrilled with!

​​There’s something cheesy going on around here…

Thirty-year-old Amalia Kis just opened a new bistro that specializes in selling mouth-watering platters of cheeses, salamis, artisan breads and wines with quirky names like Broke Ass, Well Hung and The Accomplice.  

But when she’s greeted by the body of the local town hoarder hanging from the coat hooks at her bistro, she finds herself in the midst of an unsavory murder investigation, and her plans for success are quickly thwarted. 

After a second body turns up in her stairway, the list of suspects steadily grows, as does Amalia’s desperation when her Hungarian parents decide to visit for a few days. To further complicate her life, Matt, an ex-cop who now owns his own private investigating firm, takes a sudden interest in her, but getting cozy with him proves to be difficult amidst concussions, break-ins, and her overprotective parents.

Amalia’s savings are quickly dwindling, as are the customers at the bistro amidst all the scandal. Desperate not to lose her bistro, and since the police don’t seem to be making much headway, Amalia starts investigating on her own.

Without a clue as to what she’s doing, will she end up pasteurized or live to Whine another day?

To order your own copy of Judy Volhart's first Whine & Cheese Cozy Mystery please visit Open Books.Com and order yours today! 

Learn more about Judy by clicking 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