Birthday Giveaway!

I had planned to do a series of giveaways for my birthday.  That didn't work out when no one entered for the first book.  So I'm going to try again with one big giveaway.

All books are autographed.  Some are ARCs (Advance Reader Copies), and this will be noted.  I will link to my posts if I've read the book in question.

I'm not going to do the Rafflecopter thing.  Instead, if you are interested in entering

1. Comment with your interest in  Package Romance or Package Mystery.
2. List your top 3 choices.
3. Include an email or way of contact.

How many winners and how many books each winner will receive depends on the number of entries received.  This is open Internationally and ends on the 10th of September 2018.

Package Romance

• Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean [My Thoughts]
• Hot Mess by Emily Belden [My Thoughts]
• A Distant Heart by Sonali Dev [My Thoughts]
• Six Impossible Things by Elizabeth Boyle
• An Affair with a Notorious Heiress by Lorraine Heath
• A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean
• Lone Star Nights by Delores Fossen (ARC)
• Tough Luck Hero by Maisey Yates (ARC)
• Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis (ARC)

Package Mystery

• Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O'Connor [My Thoughts]
• Midsummer Night's Mischief by Jennifer David Hesse
• Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon
• Survival of the Fritters by Ginger Bolton
• Death in Dark Blue by Julia Buckley
• Die, Die, Birdie by J.R. Ripley
• Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann
• The Masque of a Murderer by Susanna Calkins
• City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley

It's Monday! What are you reading? 8/6/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

My birthday is coming in a little under a month.  Since I am now becoming more regular in my blogging, I want to celebrate it on here.  I have been focused on library and digital books lately, but I have some print books that need attention.  I've decided to have a giveaway once a week up through my birthday.  I will discuss this further at the end of this post.

This week I finished reading:

The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson  - [My post] 

Tricks for Free (InCryptid, Bk 7) by Seanan McGuire - [My post] 

The Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings by Sarah Prineas - [My post] 

Bird, Bath, and Beyond (Agent to the Paws Mystery, Bk 2) by E. J. Copperman - [My post] 

I'm currently reading:

The lighting is horrible in this image - I took this without flash to better show the screens.  The one in the back is the audio of Moby Dick.

In audio (on CD), I've been listening to Moby Dick by Herman Melville (read by Paul Boehmer).  Captain Ahab has told his crew about the great white whale they seek.  The top harpooners have identified his whale as Moby Dick.  I think I may need to switch to the print for a bit to get through this next part.

A Hard Day's Knight (Nightside, Bk 11) by Simon R. Green (library OverDrive ebook) - I'm enjoying this so far.  John has fought off a great many, but there is an upcoming elf civil war to concern himself with.

Eye of the Shoal : a Fish-watcher's Guide to Life, the Ocean and Everything by Helen Scales (library hardcover) - I didn't get any further with this title this week.

The Story Chapter 3 "Joseph: From Slave to Deputy Pharaoh" read by Michael Blain-Rozgay and Allison Moffett - These are eAudio through the library's Hoopla subscription.  I've barely started thsi chapter.

Up next:

The Saturday Morning Murder (Michael Ohayon, Bk 1) by Batya Gur
The Silk Train Murder (Kondike Era Mystery, Bk 1) by Sharon Rowse
Bannerless (Bannerless, Bk 1) by Carrie Vaughn
Cat About Town (Cat Cafe Mystery, Bk 1) by Cate Conte
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (book discussion book)
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi; Translated by Jonathan Wright
Lady Elect by Likita Lynnette Nichols
The Grey Bastards (The Lot Lands, #1) by Jonathan French
Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin; illustrated by Giovanni Rigano
The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and our Health—and a Vision for Change by Annie Leonard
Happy Starts at Home by Rebecca West
The Locksmith's Daughter by Karen Brooks
Venom in the Veins (Elemental, Bk 17) by Jennifer Estep
Nightbooks by J. A. White
The Lost Chapters: Finding Recovery and Renewal One Book at a Time by Leslie Schwartz
Bringing back Our Freshwater Lakes by Lisa J. Amstutz

Giveaway

For this first birthday celebration giveaway, I will be offering Hot Mess by Emily Belden.  I heard Emily speak at a romance panel in June.  According to Emily, the book has a foodie touch and addresses addiction issues and healthy/unhealthy relationships.  The book was purchased new and signed by the author.  It is unread (though it should be once read by the time I ship it).  Enter below.  Winner must respond to my contact email within 24 hours.  This is an international giveaway.  All entrants welcome!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cozy Cull [12] - Autographed Throw in the Trowel by Kate Collins #giveaway

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

 Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

This week I have book 15 in the Flower Shop Mystery series, Throw in the Trowel by Kate Collins (published February 2014).  

I still haven't read beyond the first 3 books in this series so far (you can find my thoughts on them here), but I will.

From Goodreads:

I’m used to buried bulbs, not buried bodies…

The couple that sleuths together…

Flower Shop owner Abby Knight has just returned from a romantic honeymoon with the man of her dreams. There’s no reason for the bloom to be off the rose just because she and Marco are returning to normal life. But when Marco discovers a skeleton buried in the basement of his bar, it is a bit of a mood killer.

When the body is identified as a carpenter who went missing back in the 1970s, Abby and Marco decide to cultivate the clues to solve the cold case. What could be more romantic? But the deeper they dig, the more desperate the murderer grows. And if Marco and Abby don’t unearth the killer’s identity, they may not live to see their first anniversary.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's all in the terms and conditions, but in case you missed those...

Giveaway ends Thursday, February 27th (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

It's not required, but feel free to comment!

And the winner is... Elissa!

Giveaway! Seeking Philbert Woodbead‏ (A Madcap Regency Romance) (Fairweather Sisters, Bk 2) by Anya Wylde

Anya Wylde has offered to giveaway a free copy of her newest ebook, Seeking Philbert Woodbead‏.  This is a sequel to her last book, Penelope.

Book Synopsis:

Miss Celine Fairweather’s life was bobbing along like a boat on a tranquil stream when a summons from her beloved sister Penelope Radclyff, the Duchess of Blackthorne, changed it all. Celine hurtles off to the London to help the duchess run the Blackthorne Mansion and to discover the whereabouts of her lost love Philbert Woodbead.

Celine manages to keep things deathly dull and under control for a whole week until she enlists the help of the handsome Lord Elmer—a mischievous rogue, an ex-pirate, and an incorrigible flirt who is wanted dead by all of England’s husbands with attractive wives. They scurry from one giddy escapade to another seeking Philbert in musty inns and dusty streets, and through it all Celine tries to keep her bonnet straight, her gloves spotless and her heart in tune with her head.

Life has suddenly turned exciting, and love has well and truly bitten her rosy buttocks. Now the only question is … who has done the biting?

Excerpt:

In the latter part of March of the year seventeen hundred and something, a large schooner rested on calm blue waters off the coast of England.

It was mid-afternoon, the water was unruffled and crystal clear, while the sky above had sent its grey clouds to London.

The sun beamed down on the deck where gentlemen with missing toes, feet, teeth or hands lay draped around the schooner attempting to snooze away the day.

Now, this schooner was no ordinary schooner (as you might have guessed from the hint above referring to missing limbs and such) but a piratical schooner, and the gentlemen were not really gentlemen but looters, marauders and plunderers.

Yes, sir, they were murderous, unscrupulous adventurers and stinking water rats.

They were all pirates. Each one of them were pirates. The whole blasted lot of them were pirates. In fact, they couldn’t be more piratical if they tried. And they tried. Oh, how they tried to be more devilish than the devil himself.

And one of them came close to being the devilishest … if that is a word. If it is not, then it should be because it perfectly described the tall, muscular, grey eyed man with his long silver streaked black hair and cruel mouth. This man was so wicked that the mere reference to him caused the afternoon light to dim, the wind to blow more urgently, the men to wake mid snooze, the tea to jump out of the cup … Where were we?

Ah, yes, the captain of the ship, the head pirate, the Black bloody Rover, whose name was enough to frighten the children of the world into behaving, was the owner of this piratical schooner called The Desperate Lark and the leader of these dim muscled men.

He stormed now onto the middle of the deck sending the seagulls screaming into the air. His appearance caused the men to scatter while his frown had them cowering in the bilge. While they cowered, the Black Rover grabbed the cuff of a one legged man, his most trusted aide, and in low, clipped cultured tones asked, "Who stole it, Tim?"

"George Rodrick Irvin, the future Earl of Devon currently holding the courtesy title of Viscount Elmer," squeaked Tim. "The one we call Lord Wicked."

"Kill him." The Black Rover was a man of few words.

Tim bowed in response.

"And kidnap the cooks," the Black Rover continued.

Tim dared to frown, "Cooks?"

The Black Rover glowered. "And the chefs. I want every single person who can cook to be kidnapped and tortured until we get it back."
"Torture?" Tim asked uncomfortably. "Can’t we simply kill them and be done with it? I don’t like torturing. It is a messy job, and I don’t like it when they cry and they all cry."

The Black Rover smiled harshly. He leaned closer to Tim and whispered in his half bitten ear two words, "Pigeon feathers."
"Arr." Tim’s sparsely lashed eyes widened in admiration. He shook his head at his captain’s intelligence. The most learned man, Tim thought proudly, was right here.

Pigeon feathers … The Black Rover was a blooming genius.

To Enter:

Use the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway ends Saturday, September 14th at 11:59 pm CT.  You must have an Amazon account to win (this is free).  Extra entries can be earned, so please spread the word!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And the winner is... J. Kaye!

Cozy Cull [11] - Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy + Autographed Bookmark

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

 Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

This week I have book 6 in the White House Chef Mystery series, Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy(published January 2013).

You can find my thoughts on Fonduing Fathers here.  I'm a fan of Julie Hyzy's book and have posted on several other books, from this series and otherwise... Artistic License (standalone) ; State of the Onion AND Hail to the Chef AND Eggsecutive Orders AND Buffalo West Wing AND Affairs of Steak (White House Mystery Series, Bks 1-5) ; Grace Under Pressure AND Grace Interrupted (Manor House Mystery, Bks 1-2) ; Deadly Blessings (Alex St. James Mystery, Bk 1).

From Goodreads:

White House executive chef Olivia Paras has enough on her plate. But after gaining new information about her father’s death, the First Family isn’t the only family Olivia is concerned about…

Olivia has always believed that her father was an honorable man—until a trip to visit her mother reveals that he was dishonorably discharged from the army. Olivia is even more shocked to learn that he was brutally murdered because someone at his company suspected him of selling corporate secrets. Refusing to believe that her father was a scoundrel, Olivia won’t rest until she proves his innocence.

Enlisting the help of her boyfriend, Gav, Olivia must reach out to her father’s colleagues to discover the truth behind his murder. What she’s about to discover may not only put her at risk, but threaten national security as well…

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's all in the terms and conditions, but in case you missed those...

Giveaway ends Thursday, September 5th (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

It's not required, but feel free to comment!

And the winner is... Darlene!

Cozy Cull [10] - Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged) by Carrie Bebris

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

 Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

This week I have the first book in the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery series, Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged) by Carrie Bebris (published May 2007 - first published February 2004). 

You can find my thoughts on Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged) here.

From Goodreads:

Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged), a Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery, embroils the joyous newlyweds Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy in a mystery involving one of their wedding guests.

The lovely Caroline Bingley is engaged to marry a rich and charismatic American. Unfortunately, this windswept courtship is marred by many strange events-- nocturnal wanderings, spooked horses, carriage accidents, and even an apparent suicide attempt. Soon the whole Bingley family seems the target of a mysterious plot, with only the Darcys recognizing the danger

Sinister forces are afoot and the Darcys must get to the bottom of the plot before the blushing bride descends into madness--or worse.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's all in the terms and conditions, but in case you missed those...

Giveaway ends Thursday, April 25th (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

It's not required, but feel free to comment!

And the winner is Vanessa of MomLovesDeals!

Cozy Cull [9] - How to Host a Killer Party by Penny Warner

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is a (semi-)weekly giveaway.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

This week I have the first book in the Party-Planner Mystery series, How to Host a Killer Party by Penny Warner (published February 2010). 

You can find my thoughts on How to Host a Killer Party here.

From Goodreads:

Don't let murder crash your party.

Presley Parker was just happy to get her party planning business off the ground. Now she's gotten the gig of the year, planning Mayor Davin Green's sumptuous "surprise" wedding for his socialite fiancée, to be held on Alcatraz.

But when the bride is found floating in the bay and the original party planner is found murdered, Presley becomes the prime suspect. If the attractive crime scene cleaner, Brad Matthews, doesn't help her tidy her reputation, she'll be exchanging her formal wear for prison stripes...

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win. If I don't have a way to contact you, I will re-draw for a winner. Open to everyone (international).

Giveaway ends Thursday, March 14th (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

And the winner of this week's Cozy Cull is Shelleyrae!

Penelope (A Madcap Regency Romance) by Anya Wylde Giveaway!!

I have the opportunity to offer a copy of this new book, Penelope (A Madcap Regency Romance) (Amazon) by Anya Wylde to 2 winners!!!  I've read and posted on Anya Wylde's first book, The Wicked Wager, and so I know from experience that Anya's writing is fun and amusing - this book looks no different.  Please find the synopsis and excerpt, as well as details about how to win, below...

Book Synopsis:

Leaving behind the rural charms of Finnshire, Miss Penelope Fairweather arrives in London with hope in her heart and a dream in her eye. The dowager, no less, has invited her for a season in London, where she will attempt to catch a husband.

Thus begins our heroine's tale as she attempts to tackle the London season with all her rustic finesse. Unfortunately, her rustic finesse turns out to be as delicate as a fat bear trying to rip apart a honeycomb infested with buzzing bees.

What follows is a series of misadventures, love affairs, moonlit balls, fancy clothes, fake moustaches, highwaymen, sneering beauties, pickpockets, and the wrath of a devilishly handsome duke.

Excerpt:

The dowager cast a worried glance at the door while Lady Radclyff stared at the grandfather clock willing its giant needles to move.

“She is late, Mamma.”

“She will be here soon enough.”

“Do you think she is dead?”

“Annie, she is not that late!”

“Yes, but she is coming all the way from that … that Finny village. It has been raining all day and she refused our offer of a carriage. The post-chaise could have lodged itself in a pothole and overturned. I suppose she is lying in some gully, blood pooling underneath her awkwardly twisted body and not a soul in sight.”

“It’s Finnshire not Finny, and she has her maid with her.”

“Well, then the maid is dead too. The weight of the carriage finished her off well before her mistress. Poor Miss Fairweather twitched and trembled for eons fighting for that last breath.”

“I will seriously contemplate your very vivid scenario if Miss Fairweather does not arrive in the next five hours. Until then can we converse like gently bred women? If your brother heard you speaking like this, he would have you sent to the country for the next three seasons.”

“I am bored. I can’t go to the shops, go riding or feel excited about the season. Do you know that I attended a hundred and five balls last year alone, and that does not count the dinners and tea parties?”

“Miss Fairweather would have loved to attend a hundred and five balls last year. You have had the pleasure of three seasons, while the poor dear has never been to anything but the village dance.”

“What do you think she is like? Have you ever met her?”

“I have not met her, but her mother and I attended the same ladies academy. Her mother Grace was bright, full of life and laughter, and if her daughter is anything like her… ”

“Was?”

“She died giving birth to Miss Penelope Fairweather. Mr Thomas Fairweather, Penelope’s father, married the vicar’s daughter, Gertrude, within a year of Grace’s funeral. Gertrude went on to have five more children. I initiated a correspondence with Gertrude to ensure that Grace’s daughter was being well looked after—”

“You couldn’t have the stepmother drowning the child,” Lady Radclyff interrupted.

“Anne, Miss Fairweather is not an unwanted kitten. Where was I? Oh yes, Gertrude writes to me often. Her letters are full of her children’s antics. I feel as if I know them,” the dowager said dreamily. “I have imagined them growing up. They used to wail all night and then they were falling off apple trees ….”

“You are rambling again, Mamma. I don’t care about Miss Fairweather’s siblings. I want to know about her.”

“Why? You have never shown this much interest in any of my other guests before.”

Lady Radclyff sucked on a lemon drop, her mouth pursing in thought.

“The other guests were all the same. They say the same things, they are brought up the same way, and they all wear the same clothes. It is as if a single London lady and a London gentleman have been put into different moulds by God and recreated again and again. I can predict what the replies to my questions will be. No one is original. While Miss Fairweather sounds original.”

“Original?”

“I have never met a country bumpkin before.”

“Annie!”

“Well, it is true isn't it? How in the world are you going to introduce her to polite society?”

To Enter:

Enter using the Rafflecopter (my first time trying this!).  Winners will be emailed (after responding to notification) a code for Smashwords so you can choose your preferred format.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cozy Cull [8] - Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell Slan

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is a (semi-)weekly giveaway.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

This week I have a trade-size copy (with autographed bookplate) of the first in the Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery series, Paper, Scissors, Death, by Joanna Campbell Slan (published September 2008). Click on the links to find my thoughts on Paper, Scissors, Death and the second book in the series Cut, Crop & Die.

From Goodreads:

Every scrapbook tells a story. Memories of friends, family . . .and murder?

Mousy housewife Kiki Lowenstein has two great loves: scrapbooking and her young daughter, Anya. But her happy family album is ruined when her husband, George, is found naked and dead in a hotel room. As Kiki tracks down George's murderer, she discovers his sordid secret life.

Cruel taunts by George's former flame compel Kiki to spout an unwise threat. When the woman is murdered, Kiki's scissor-sharp words make her the prime suspect. She could be creating scrapbook keepsakes for the rest of her life-behind bars. Supported by her loyal friends, along with a little help (and a lot of stomach flutters) from the dashing Detective Detweiler, can Kiki cut the true killer out of the picture and design a new life for herself and Anya?

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win.  I don't have a way to contact you, I will re-draw for a winner. Open to everyone (international).

Giveaway ends Thursday, January 31st (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

The winner is Amanda!

Cozy Cull [7] - Beef Stolen-Off by Liz Lipperman

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is a (semi-)weekly giveaway.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

This week I have a copy of the second in the Clueless Cook Mystery series, Beef Stolen-Off, by Liz Lipperman (published July 2012).  

Click on the links to find my thoughts on Liver Let Die (Clueless Cook Mystery, Bk 1) and/or Beef Stolen-Off.

From Goodreads: 

As the food columnist for The Ranchero Globe, Jordan McAllister catches the eye of cattle baron Lucas Santana, who invites her to the Cattleman's Ball, hoping a positive review from the ball might boost the county's sagging beef sales.

To ensure Jordan enjoys herself, Santana sets her up with a prime cowboy companion for the event--Rusty Morales. Jordan's delighted to go with him and two-step the night away. But instead, she winds up in the emergency room where her date is DOA.

When Rusty's mother begs her for help, Jordan knows she needs to grab the bull by the horns and get to the bottom of this mystery before she corrals herself into trouble...

INCLUDES RECIPES!

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win. Open to everyone (includes international). 

Giveaway ends Thursday, January 24th (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

This week's winner is Jane!

Cozy Cull [6] - Sketch Me If You Can by Sharon Pape

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is a (semi-)weekly giveaway.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

 This week I have a copy of the first in the Portrait of Crime Mystery series, Sketch Me If You Can, by Sharon Pape (published August 2010). 

You can find my thoughts on Sketch Me If You Can here.

From Goodreads: 

She's a police sketch artist. He's a dead lawman. Together, they put a face on murder.

When her uncle dies suddenly, police sketch artist Rory McCain inherits a list of clients from his private detective business and a beautiful, old house with a ghostly inhabitant: Federal Marshal Ezekiel Drummond, aka Zeke.

Having a ghost as a housemate is bad enough, but as Rory's drawn into one of her uncle's unsolved cases and faces a cold-blooded killer, she may need the marshal's supernatural help to stay alive.

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win. Open to everyone.

Giveaway ends Thursday, January 3rd (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email. 

The winner of this Cozy Cull giveaway is Sue!

Cozy Cull [5] - The Diva Takes the Cake by Krista Davis #giveaway

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is a weekly giveaway.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

This week I have a copy of the second in the Domestic Diva Mystery series, The Diva Takes the Cake, by Krista Davis (published June 2009).

I've posted my thoughts for the first Domestic Diva mystery, The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, in February of 2010, and I just posted my thoughts on The Diva Takes the Cake.

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win. Open to everyone.

 From Goodreads:

Some Wedding Advice from the Domestic Diva: Keeep the food....Lose the Groom!

Sophie Winston's sister, Hannah, is getting married-again! And if you ask Sophie, her future brother-in-law is no prince. But is he a killer? That's the question on everyone's mind when his ex-wife is found hanging from a pergola. This is one event Sophie and her sister hadn't planned on.

As hidden family secrets begin to come to light, Sophie finds the list of suspects is almost as long as the list of wedding guests. Will the real killer be seated on the groom's side or the bride's? Or will he be standing at the altar? Either way, Sophie must solve the murder in time to stop her sister from making the biggest-and possibly the last-mistake of her life.

Giveaway ends Thursday, December 6th (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

The winner of this Cozy Cull giveaway is Carol N Wong!

Cozy Cull [4] - Finger Lickin' DEAD by Riley Adams #giveaway

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is the fourth of a weekly giveaway.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

This week I have a copy of the second in the Memphis BBQ Mystery series, Finger Lickin' Dead, by Riley Adams (published June 2011).

I've posted my thoughts for the first Memphis BBQ mystery, Delicious and Suspicious, back in December of 2010, and I just posted my thoughts on Finger Lickin' Dead.

From Goodreads:

When an anonymous food critic blasts several local restaurants- including Aunt Pat's-Lulu Taylor and her customers are biting mad, especially when they learn that Eppie Currian is the pen name of their friend Evelyn's cheating boyfriend. When "Eppie" gets his own fatal review, the list of suspects is longer than the list of specials at the best BBQ place in Memphis.

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win. Open to everyone.

Giveaway ends Thursday, November 29th (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

The winner of this Cozy Cull giveaway is Charity!

Cozy Cull [3] - Nightshade on Elm Street by Kate Collins #giveaway

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is the third of what I hope will be a weekly giveaway.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. I cannot keep this going if I don't have more interest.

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

For this week, only the 3rd, I'm already breaking my own rules.  I've been reading Finger Lickin' Dead (Memphis BBQ Mystery, Bk 2) by Riley Adams for this giveaway.  But I haven't finished it yet, so I had to rethink my options.

I had the opportunity to splurge and purchase an autographed copy of the most recent (out this November 2012) Flower Shop Mystery (Bk 13) by Kate Collins, Nightshade on Elm Street.

I've only read the first 3 books in this series so far (you can find my thoughts on them here), so I'll have to read the library's copy of this when I finally get caught up (as I can't afford to buy a book twice!).

From Goodreads:

Enjoy her wedding shower…or receive a cold dunking?

In addition to running her flower shop, planning her wedding, and juggling two mothers who both want to host an elaborate bridal shower, Abby Knight is facing another complication. Her ditzy cousin Jillian asks her and her longtime beau, Marco, a private detective, to find a woman who’s gone missing from the exclusive beach house belonging to Jillian’s in-laws, the Osbornes. The missing woman is also the fiancée of Pryce Osborne, a wet noodle with a big bank account who dumped Abby just before their wedding several years ago. Merely being anywhere near Pryce makes Abby’s insecurities grow like kudzu….

Then a woman’s drowned body surfaces, and Pryce becomes a prime suspect in her death. Unless Abby and Marco can get a killer to come clean, their bridal shower will turn into a complete washout...and Pryce will be exchanging a sunny beach for a prison cell.

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win. Open to everyone.

Giveaway ends Thursday, November 22nd (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before moving on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

The winner of this Cozy Cull giveaway is Kimberlee!

Cozy Cull [2] - If Fried Chicken Could Fly by Paige Shelton #giveaway

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is the second of what I hope will be a weekly giveaway depending on response.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book.

The plan is each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  I write a post about it.  Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

I have a copy of the first in Paige Shelton's Country Cooking School Mystery series, If Fried Chicken Could Fly, which first came out in January 2012.

My thoughts on the book can be found here.

From Goodreads:

At Gram's Country Cooking School, Betts and Gram are helping students prepare the perfect dishes for the Southern Missouri Show-Down, the cook-off that draws the first of the summer visitors. Everything is going smoothly until they discover the body of local theater owner Everett Morningside in the school's supply closet, and Everett's widow points an accusatory finger at Gram. Now, Betts has to dig deep into Broken Rope's history to find the modern-day killer-before the last piece of chicken is served...

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win.   Open to everyone.

Giveaway ends Thursday, November 15th (11:59 pm CT).  I'll give the winner 2 days to respond before moving on to someone else.  Winner will be announced here.

The winner of this Cozy Cull giveaway is Shelleyrae!

Cozy Cull [1] - Die Buying by Laura DiSilverio #giveaway

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is the first of what I hope will be a weekly giveaway.  The plan is each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  I write a post about it.  Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

I have a copy of the first in Laura DiSilverio's Mall Cop Mystery series, Die Buying, which first came out in August 2011.  (Note: I actually purchased this one new from one of the Borders closing sales, but future giveaways may feature books that entered my herd already used.)

My thoughts on the book can be found here.

From Goodreads:

Emma-Joy Ferris likes mall cop work, even though it's a bit more humdrum than the military policing she did in the army. But there's no time to be bored when someone 'liberates' a 15-foot python from the Herpetology Hut, and a mannequin turns out to be a very real corpse.

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win.  I might eventually have a form, but one step at a time...

Giveaway ends Wednesday, November 7th (11:59 pm).  I'll give the winner 2 days to respond before moving on to someone else.

The winner of the first Cozy Cull giveaway is Mish!

You're Invited... (Birthdays, Cupcakes, Books, and a Giveaway!)

It's my birthday!  And I'd like to invite you to celebrate it with me.

I'm having a cupcake giveaway.

The giveaway includes the first 2 Jenn McKinlay Cupcake Mysteries (used), Sprinkle With Murder and Buttercream Bump Off, a cupcake table runner, a cupcake clock (battery not included), a cupcake bag, three cupcake picture holders, cupcake recipe cards, and various cupcake stickers and notepads.  Nothing real expensive, but I think it's all cute.  And I loved the first Cupcake Mystery (I'll be re-reading that and reading the second before I send this).

All you have to do is post a comment telling me how you like (or don't like) to celebrate your birthday and include an email addy (or PBS nickname, or if we're friends on FB let me know) so I can contact you.  As for my own birthday celebration, in addition to having this giveaway, I'll be having dinner at Olive Garden and (assuming it's still open... it was as of 8/31) going to the only Borders left in the area to see if I can catch any closing sales.

Open until Sept. 8, 2011, 11:59 PM CT.