Blog Tour Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway for Molded 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton

The Hotter the Days, the More We Write

            Readers can thank the brutal Arizona temperatures for our summer productivity. It’s the only time we meet our word count deadlines and then some. Trust us, it’s not because we enjoy sequestering ourselves in the house from noon until dusk, it’s because we don’t have a choice. Even the dog refuses to leave when the triple temps arrive and the television stations flash “High heat advisory is in effect until…(well, winter).”

 It happens every summer and yet it always seems to come as a surprise to us, even though we’ve lived in the Valley of the Sun, aka Phoenix area, for over eleven years, having moved here from New York once we figured out snow was optional. One would think by now we’d be used to writing with sweat pouring down ours neck and overhead fans running at breakneck speed, even with the air-conditioner running.

            Actually, we’re fine for the first few months. May, June, and July roll blissfully by and we begin to wonder what the fuss is all about. Then, August and September arrive and it’s as if our brains have melted. And not just with writing our cozy mysteries. We re-paid bills on our banking auto-pay, making a few credit card companies more than happy, and Ann  wished the wrong people “Happy Birthday” on Facebook and a sent a condolence card to a friend who emailed us to ask, “Who died?”

             Producing quality work while guzzling ice water and dripping beads of sweat at our desks or in our chairs, is a skill that we should have mastered years ago in New York. Back then it was called taking the Regents exams. At least 100 of us were crowded into a stuffy, stifling gymnasium in late June, with the desks lined up as far as the eye could see and a few miserable teachers walking up and down the aisles telling us to keep our eyes on our own papers. (As if we could focus past our own blurry eyeballs!) If we were lucky, the custodians would manage to drag in a large fan or two for the corners of the gym. About as useful as a fly swatter in the Amazon.

            Unfortunately, dealing with the heat is more of an attitude than a skill. We tell ourselves that “it’s a dry heat,” but that’s like saying, “working inside of a 450 degree oven is better than laboring at the steam cleaners.”

            By the end of September, we’re reached our apex and find ourselves saying such awful things as, “When are you going to kill someone off?” and “Can’t we murder a few more people?” True, cozy murder mysteries are murder mysteries, but still? How many corpses have to show up on someone’s doorstep?

            Then, October rolls around and miraculously, we’re back to eighty degree days. We return to writing bucolic settings and charming characters. That is, until the next summer veers its ugly head.

Ann I. Goldfarb and James E. Clapp, writing as J.C. Eaton

About Molded 4 Murder

 

Molded 4 Murder (Sophie Kimball Mystery)  

Cozy Mystery 5th in Series  

Kensington (August 27, 2019)  

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages  

ISBN-10: 1496719905  

ISBN-13: 978-1496719904  

Digital ASIN: B07L2FJ1PN 

A view to a kiln …

Sophie “Phee” Kimball enjoys working as a bookkeeper for a private investigator. If only her mother Harriet could enjoy her retirement at Sun City West in Arizona—instead of constantly getting involved with retirees being prematurely put out to pasture. This time Quentin Dussler, a prominent member of the clay sculpting club, was found dead, clutching a piece of paper scrawled with Phee’s mother’s name.

Terrified she’s been targeted by assassins, Harriet begs Phee to investigate. What Phee uncovers is a complicated scheme that only the most diabolical of murderers would ever devise. And as she chisels away at confusing clues and potential suspects, Phee unearths something far more precious and valuable than she could imagine. Eager for answers, she takes a bold step—placing herself in the crosshairs of a stonefaced killer …

REVIEW

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

Sophie is always fun to hang out with. She is enjoying her job as bookkeeper minding her own business when all kinds of things start going wrong. First Marshall is wrapped up in a dangerous case stressing her out making her worry. Then Nate gets handed a case that involves her mother which causes mom to totally freak though the dog is still hilarious. On top of all that Sophie gets asked by two senior lady friends to look into some minor thefts. All of this going on makes for a fun story that will keep you guessing as to who did what making for a great time reading. A pleasurable read for fans of cozies. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

About the Authors

 

Ann I. Goldfarb

New York native Ann I. Goldfarb spent most of her life in education, first as a classroom teacher and later as a middle school principal and professional staff developer. Writing as J. C. Eaton, along with her husband, James Clapp, she has authored the Sophie Kimball Mysteries (Kensington) was released in June 2017. In addition, Ann has nine published YA time travel mysteries under her own name. Visit the websites at www.jceatonauthor.com and www.timetravelmysteries.com

James E. Clapp

When James E. Clapp retired as the tasting room manager for a large upstate New York winery, he never imagined he’d be co-authoring cozy mysteries with his wife, Ann I. Goldfarb. His first novel, Booked 4 Murder (Kensington) was released in June 2017. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching.

Visit their website at www.jceatonauthor.com and Like and Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JCEatonauthor/

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS 

October 15 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST  
October 15 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - SPOTLIGHT  
October 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW  
October 16 – Reading Is My SuperPower - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT  
October 16 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW  
October 16 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT  
October 17 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW  
October 17 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my! – GUEST POST  
October 18 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
October 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT  
October 18 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews - REVIEW, GUEST POST  
October 19 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW  
October 19 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT  
October 19 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT  
October 20 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW  
October 20 – Laura's Interests – SPOTLIGHT  
October 20 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT  
October 21 - Diary of a Book Fiend – REVIEW  
October 21 - Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT  
October 22 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW  
October 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 22 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  

 

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