Get Booked by Bridget M. Tighe

I was sent Get Booked by Bridget M. Tighe to read and review and it was so much fun. While the cover is not your typical cozy, what is between it completely was. Great setting of rural Montana and a small community that doesn't seem like it has all that much going on but when they do, wow! This is a good, fast and funny read. With endearing characters and a lovely cozy message about life and how to do more then just go on, but how to really find your way back to living. Lovely story, good mystery and fun finally! Loved it.

"Get Booked" is the story of Megan McDougal, a passionate, quirky children’s librarian who has returned to her small home town in Montana after mysteriously becoming a soldier’s widow and single mother. She is finding new joy in life with family, and her hilariously likeable friends in the Half Reads Book Club. When Megan’s neighbor, a crazy cat lady, is murdered, this unlikely bunch of fun-loving readers jump at the opportunity for gossip and a good mystery. The generously vivacious Phyllis, an emergency services dispatcher, acts as the group’s link to law enforcement and no one knows more about what really goes on. The gallant and roguish Sergeant Tim Sayer has his eye on Megan, and not just because she is poking around for evidence and suspects, but is she ready? Or is the kind and quiet mailman Toby, more likely to be the one who delivers? Could raging Ralph Swenson have finally gone too far, offing his neighbor for letting her cats use his yard as a litterbox? What about the cat burglar who has been sneaking into homes and stealing without leaving a single mark or fingerprint? Then there’s the ex-boyfriend, Richard, seeking to reignite passions only to be spurned. The nephew living in the basement has been acting suspiciously, carrying needles, disappearing - could he have done her in when she tried to kick him out? Excitement and intrigue drive this eccentric book club to leave their comfort zone in search of the killer, and only their unique resourcefulness and peculiar perseverance get them clues, but everything is dead ends. Pressure mounts and the reality of danger is real, with a killer loose and the possibility that the illusive burglar is really the murderer searching for another victim.This story, set in rural Rutley, Montana,stands out from other cozy mysteries because it is sexy, thrilling, and hilarious with one unexpected twist after another.

Get Booked is out now and you can get it in paperback or on kindle from 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

The Amigos Holiday Hiatus

Good morning! Our Amigos have all decided that collectively we will take a group Hiatus from coordinating our posts until the Spring. This way we can all spend the holidays focusing on finding wonderful books to review for you all in the Spring additions of our Amigos tours. We are all still writing, reading and reviewing but we are taking a short hiatus from our group blogging efforts this upcoming holiday season. Karen K and I will continue to post together occasionally as our Double Doubles have been well received and each of the Amigos will continue to write and publish as well.

I am committed to daily posts as usual and look forward to sharing them with all of you. So please do feel welcome to join me here daily!

You can catch up with Lisa as well on her blog by clicking here. 

Sheryl over at Booth Talks Books by clicking here

and Mary on her blog MJBreviewers by clicking here.
We invite you to continue celebrating our love of reading, cozy mysteries and each other by visiting our blogs and leaving us comments and messages letting us know how you are doing!

We all wish you a very safe and happy holiday season and look forward to still spending time with you daily. We hope to return on our blog tours together in 2018 and hope you will welcome us all back!

Thank you for joining us here today and for all your support of our Amigos blog tours!

We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment below. Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery announcement today. Now back to reading!

The Curious Affair of The Witch At Wayside Cross by Lisa Tuttle

Sometimes I get to review a book and series that stays with me long after I finish it for me it is the series of Jesperson & Lane, by Lisa Tuttle. In book two The Curious Affair of The Witch At Wayside Cross I found I was even more engrossed and enchanted by this Victorian times mystery. With amazing main characters who are an unlikely pair of private investigators reminiscent of  Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, but with hints of the paranormal and mysteries that you can not wait to have solved. 

The first book in the series I could not put down and it was very much the same with book two. It was entertaining, enlightening and eclectic. Wonderfully woven mysteries, characters that make you think and a time period that lends itself so well to mystery and discovery this is a series that I can say is now one of my most favorites and I am so looking forward to reading about their next adventures. 

"Witch!” cries the young man after stumbling unexpectedly into the London address of the consulting-detective partnership of Mr. Jasper Jesperson and Miss Lane. He makes the startling accusation while pointing toward Miss Lane . . . then he drops dead. Thus begins the strangest case yet to land—quite literally—on the doorstep of Jesperson and Lane.According to the coroner, Charles Manning died of a heart attack—despite being in perfect health. Could he have been struck down by a witch’s spell? The late Mr. Manning’s address book leads Jesperson and Lane to the shrieking pits of Aylmerton, an ancient archaeological site reputed to be haunted by a vengeful ghost. There they sift through the local characters, each more suspicious than the last: Manning’s associate, Felix Ott, an English folklore enthusiast; Reverend Ringer, a fierce opponent of superstition; and the Bulstrode sisters, a trio of beauties with a reputation for witchcraft.But when an innocent child goes missing, suddenly Jesperson and Lane aren’t merely trying to solve one murder—they’re racing to prevent another.

The Witch at Wayside Cross is out November 28th and you can find it for pre-order by clicking here from Amazon. 
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 October 28th- November 4th

This week has been an eventful one, not the best to be sure but busy all the same. I have started reading Get Booked by Bridget M. Tighe this week,

Started Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) and have just made myself write every day so far, who knows never tried it so it may actually work!

Had Halloween, which we went to my in laws for. No kids up here we were told for trick or treating so we went to where we used to live instead. I missed handing out candy and seeing cute kids and costumes. Trick or Treating is hard work!
Above is my cat Squirrel, loving the warm sunlight on the front step.

Now our other Cat Mia, in nearly the same spot, just before her emergency surgery ...she somehow did horrific damage to her leg, knee cap, acl and ligaments of her leg, tough choice to make do the very expensive surgery or put an otherwise healthy two year old cat down. We chose the surgery. The recovery is likely to be a long one.

It was such a delight to read Lynn Cahoon's book this week and review it. I really love the idea of the writers retreat.

Sharon Pape writes a wonderful Fantasy Paranormal Cozy and this is a fun one! Loved reading That Olde White Magick!

The reluctant reader and I shared his love for the book Everything you need to know about Nightmares! And How To Defeat them. Great read and funny too!

I read Eaves of Destruction this week as well by Kate Carlisle and will share my review with you in a few days.

Sunday I reviewed of Spice and Men by author Sarah Fox. This is a great West Coast Series and we are having a release day party on Tuesday and you are invited!

Our pre party is on now so you can join in the fun now and on Tuesday, click here for the online event in Beyond The Bookmarks Facebook Event Discussion page.

Even though I have just started taking down the Halloween Decor and I have not yet pulled out the Christmas/Winter Holiday Decor I could not help but make a pot of Santa's Secret Tea a Davids Tea favorite this week. I also have had Mint Majesty by Teavana, Murchie's Vanila Black , Trader Joe's Early Grey and a camomile based tea.

Thank you for joining me here this week 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

Fancy Friday Finds Related Inspired by Snow

As I write this they are calling for snow today. I am trying to believe that it is a sick joke but the temperatures have been leading me to believe that shoveling snow is about to become more a part of my daily life then I prefer. Today's Fancy Friday finds are inspired by the impending threat of weather...

Tea is a staple and must in my house year round, however no more appreciated than when the quiet of the morning , by the light of the candle and looking over the snow covered yard, that is if I haven't anywhere to go! Snow love Tea from Special Tea Company has the perfect fruit blend to enjoy. Click here for more info.

Dragonfly Candle Co has a lovely Candle you can personalize, this one says Warm and Cozy and you can put whatever you like on the back. I love the idea of this one and staying warm and cozy is always on my preferred activity list. Find this candle by clicking here. 

Fitz The Occasion has this perfect teacup and saucer set that you can use for tea when the Lavender Candle is finished burning. Find this one list by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and three Fancy Friday Finds. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Lynn Cahoon's Of Murder and Men

Would anyone like to join me for a writers' retreat? I am so excited to have been sent Of Murder and Men by Lynn Cahoon to read and review. I could not put it down. This is book three in the Cat Latimer Mystery series and there was so much going on in this book that while reading it I really felt part of the writers retreat and the mystery too. I loved the first chapter and how grumpy main character Cat came across. It was a great way to open the book and helped this character truly feel real. While running a writer's retreat, Cat who is supposed to be penning her next best selling book, is steal dealing with packing up her deceased ex husband's papers, home office and trying to figure out how he was murdered. Throw in the fact that she is struggling to deal with her best friend and business partners new relationship with someone she doesn't like and a freezing recently renovated attic writing space. I have to say Lynn  does a really great job of creating a very good plot and conflict!

Ever since her business partner, Shauna, fell for a wealthy landowner in town, Cat has been working double time to keep her writers’ retreat running. And with the January session almost underway, that spells trouble. As if scheduling mishaps aren’t disastrous enough, Shauna skips out on kitchen duties one morning, forcing Cat to serve unsuspecting guests store-bought muffins . . .But best laid plans really go awry when Shauna discovers her beau missing from their bed. When his body later turns up in the horse barn, they quickly find out the victim’s scandalous lifestyle left many dying for revenge. While balancing an eccentric group of aspiring writers and a suspect list for the record books, Cat soon finds herself on the heels of a killer—and authoring her most deadly conclusion yet . . .

Of Murder and Men is coming out November 28th  and you can find it on Amazon 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

Sharon Pape, That Olde White Magick

I finished That Olde White Magick on October 23rd, this is the 2nd book in the Abracadabra Mystery series. I read the first one last spring and it was so captivating I was thrilled when I was selected to read book 2. Sharon Pape has a enchanted me with the very idea of this series. I love paranormal cozy mysteries and the fantasy aspect of this one gives it a special place in my heart. Sharon writes about a Witch who prefers the term Sorcerer and she works with her aunt in their 400 year old  Magick and tea shop. Oh but there is more, living with her aunt in book two is the wizard Merlin who seems to be stuck out of time and place in the story and yet ads such a wonderful element to this cozy mystery series.  Befuddled and Belligerent, Merlin is the perfect addition to the story, though his magic seems to be somewhat missing, his knowledge of old magick is not, his love of food, pizza and pies especially are just some of the reasons you can't help but love Merlin. There is also the great mystery to the story as well, a fairly gruesome murder, followed by a mysterious discovery and a town at odds over development lend themselves to a story I could not put down. Loved it!

Sharon Pape's That Olde White Magick is out November 7th by Lyrical Underground  and is available for pre-order on Amazon by clicking here.   

Kailyn Wilde enjoys running her shop, Abracadabra, in the quaint New York hamlet of New Camel, where she lives with her six cats. Her family's been here for centuries, and she'd like to keep up the tradition. But the place may never be the same if a big hotel gets built, so she does her civic duty and attends a town meeting along with her aunt Tilly . . . and Merlin. Yes, that Merlin-though he gets introduced to folks as her "distant English cousin." The wizard is pretty grumpy about being transported here, but there are things about the modern world he doesn't mind-like pizza.

Kailyn was prepared for a heated debate about the hotel, but she wasn't expecting murder. When Tilly finds the body of a board member outside the schoolhouse, Kailyn doesn't want any suspicion cast on the wrong person. She plans to crack this case, even if she has to talk to every living soul in town-plus a few departed ones . . .

Learn more about Sharon Pape and her writing by clicking here for her website. 
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