Legal Disclosure

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Blog Tour, Review, & Giveaway for The Fragrance of Death by Leslie Karst

 

The Fragrance of Death 

(A Sally Solari Mystery)  

by Leslie Karst

About The Fragrance of Death

 
Cozy Mystery 5th in Series  
Setting - California  
Severn House; Main edition (August 2, 2022)  
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages 
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448309034 
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448309030 
 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09V878YNB 
 

Restaurateur Sally Solari has a nose for trouble, but when her sense of smell goes missing, it's not just her career on the line . . . it's her life.

Restaurateur Sally Solari is a champion, both in the kitchen and on the case, but after getting mixed up in one too many murders, she's noticed her nonna's friends have now taken to crossing themselves when they see her in the street. Adding to her woes, a sinus infection has knocked out her sense of smell, making cooking on the hot line difficult, indeed. Nevertheless, Sally is determined to stay out of trouble and focus on her work.

But then her old acquaintance Neil Lerici is murdered at the annual Santa Cruz Artichoke Cook-Off, and her powers of investigation are called into action once more. Could Neil have been killed by the local restaurant owner who took his winning spot at the competition? Or maybe by one of his siblings, who were desperate to sell the family farm to a real estate developer?

Sally plunges headfirst into the case, risking alienating everyone she knows - including the dapper Detective Vargas, who finds her sleuthing both infuriating and endearing. And soon it's not only her restaurant and tentative new relationship that are on the line - it's her life . . . 

The Fragrance of Death is a non-stop fun cozy mystery that will keep your mind buzzing and your mouth watering, and contains a selection of delicious recipes to cook at home.

REVIEW
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
 
Sally is up to all sorts of things in this newest installment to this fun cozy mystery series. She is getting ready to participate in the Santa Cruz Artichoke Cook-Off along with her father and other great chefs. Excitement leads up to the big day but then she notices that after being sick the week before she has now lost all sense of small along with taste. This makes things awful hard when trying to cook but adding in a murder doesn't really help anything. It gets even more interesting when she is asked to assist as well. What we get after that is a nonstop read as she goes from one thing to another keeping us guessing along the way. This creates a highly enjoyable read that is the perfect way to spend a pleasant afternoon. Sure to be enjoyed by fans of the genre. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

About Leslie Karst

Leslie Karst is the author of the Lefty Award-nominated Sally Solari culinary mystery series. The daughter of a law professor and a potter, she waited tables and sang in a new wave rock band before deciding she was ready for “real” job and ending up at Stanford Law School. It was during her career as a research and appellate attorney in Santa Cruz, California, that Leslie rediscovered her youthful passion for food and cooking and once more returned to school—this time to earn a degree in culinary arts.

Now retired from the law, Leslie spends her time cooking, cycling, gardening, singing alto in her local community chorus, and of course writing. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai‘i.

Author Links  
 
Purchase Links -  
 
 
TOUR PARTICIPANTS  
July 28 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT  
July 28 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 
July 29 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW  
July 29 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST  
July 30 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT  
July 30 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT  
July 31 - FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT  
July 31 - Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
July 31 - I Read What You Write - REVIEW  
August 1 - Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  
August 1 - Novels Alive – RECIPE POST  
August 2 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW  
August 2 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW  
August 2 – Diane Reviews Books – SPOTLIGHT  
August 3 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT  
August 3 – Island Confidential - REVIEW, GUEST POST  
August 4 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT  
August 4 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT  
August 5 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT  
August 5 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT 
August 6 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  
August 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT  
 
 
 Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Honor of an Heir by Linda Rae Sande

 

The Honor of an Heir

The Heirs of Aristocracy Book 7

by Linda Rae Sande

Genre: Historical Regency Romance 

They swore never to marry. But will the right suitors melt their hearts?

Fiercely independent and daughters of a wealthy countess, twins Dahlia and Diana have no desire to husband-hunt, despite their mother’s pleas. But when the ghost of their late father makes an appearance, he takes it upon himself to guide the girls into marriage – even if his presence will scare off potential suitors.

Caught cheating in one of their university courses, twin brothers Anthony and Andrew’s dreams of a Grand Tour are shattered when their father pulls the plug on their allowances. They had hoped to put marriage off as long as possible – but with their father withholding their allowances until they are wed, they have no choice but to face the daunting task of a lifelong commitment. There’s only one problem – although one of the brothers wants to marry, the other feels as if he‘s being forced to wed for money.

Brought crashing together by fate and aided by the girls’ late father, both pairs of twins must learn to see through their differences and get along. But marriage is no easy decision, and it will take more than a miracle to convince these sisters to tie the knot.

Are the twins a match made in Heaven? Or will the girls’ independence and the brothers’ lack of a fortune serve to drive them apart?

Artfully blending a beautiful 19th-century backdrop with all the classic charm of British aristocratic life, this scintillating historical romance novel by bestselling author Linda Rae Sande is a delightful read that’s perfect for anyone looking for their next emotional fix. Scroll up and grab your copy now…

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical
writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). Getting lost in the rabbit holes of research has resulted in historical romances set in the Regency-era as well as Ancient Greece. A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. (NINC) and makes her home in Cody, Wyoming.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$10 Amazon – 1 winner,

ebook of THE VIXEN OF A VISCOUNT – 3 winners!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz & Giveaway for It Started with a Dance by Tinia Montford

It Started with a Dance
Tinia Montford
(Pacific Grove University, #2)
Publication date: July 28th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

WILL THEY PULL OFF THE PERFECT PERFORMANCE?

It’s double time for Cami Clinton…

Dance is in Cami’s blood, but a bombshell diagnosis puts her on the sidelines. Now returning for her senior year of college, she’s determined to prove she is the dancer she once was. Each year, at the end of the semester, the campus hosts a dance festival. Cami knows this is her shot at redemption, but while at a party, things go horribly wrong and Cami suddenly has a new boyfriend: Marsh Lincoln.

Marsh Lincoln has two left feet…

He doesn’t dance. A nasty accident haunts Marsh and he’s just ready to graduate. Until he’s told he’s missing credits. The only class left to fill his missing credits? Ballroom dancing. To make matters worse, his girlfriend breaks-up with him in front of everyone at a party, leaving him with a new girlfriend he’s never met before…

It takes two to tango…

Acting like the perfect couple isn’t easy when you’ve just met. When the lines between what’s real and pretend blurs, they have to ask themselves: Can you catch feelings for something that’s all pretend?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

EXCERPT:

Girl, don’t do it; it’s not worth it. Don’t do it… Don’t do it, Cami. Last time was supposed to be it! Don’t…

Paper crinkled under Cami as she shifted on the exam table, facing the cabinet on the wall. It held a box of gloves, a thermometer, an otoscope, and the little disposable thingies that went with it. She exhaled shakily and squeezed her eyes shut. I swear I’m just thinking about stealing the doctor’s glove; I’m not gonna do it. Last time was it… They are good for cleaning. It would be awful if Devin had to bail me out of jail for stealing gloves in a doctor’s office. I’ll get expelled from school and be forced onto the mean streets of the Tenderloin. I’ll have to fight cats for chicken bones and steal cough syrup to stay high.

Cami’s karma was shot to hell based on her last six months of existence. She didn’t want the big man upstairs to send a bolt of lightning down to obliterate her.

She would be good…

Pushing herself up, she strained to hear any footsteps in the hall. The doctor wouldn’t notice a few missing gloves, would she?

Her phone dinged twice with a text message. It was her best friend, Deja. Saved by the bell.

Where are you?? I thought we were getting lunch? Winter and I are in the restaurant.

Cami slapped her forehead. How could she forget? It was their annual back-to-school tradition. Lunch in Japantown and mochi ice cream afterward. A staple in their friendship since freshmen year and even more important since last semester.

I had to meet with my adviser. Let’s meet for dinner?

Deja’s reply was instant.

Fine. Take a sneak pic of your adviser. Clark is foine.

Cami hung her head. Why did I lie? Deja and Winter, her best friends, knew about her hospital stint. They visited her every day until they had to go home for summer break, right before she finally received her diagnosis. Cami still couldn’t utter the words chronic disease…

She told herself she would confess to them, but when the moment came, she found herself saying viral infection instead. Each time after that, the lie flowed easier and it became harder and harder for her to backpedal. She told herself lying was for a good reason. Cami was tired of being the one people needed to look after. She was reinventing herself after this setback, presenting herself as independent and poised. Even if it was a façade.

Anxiety churned in her stomach, and she hoped her doctor would come back with the results she wanted. A glance at her phone let her know the time.

12:04 PM.

How long had she been sitting here? Twenty or thirty minutes? It was the first day of the semester, and Cami wasn’t letting it slip through her fingers. It was late August and freezing in San Francisco because of the coastal fog and wind. She tugged at the pink chunky sweater she’d paired with a skirt and combat boots. She pulled her knotless braids over her shoulder, biting her lip with a glance at the door before she pushed herself off the exam table.

“I’m just gonna take one. I’ve been through a lot,” she muttered, justifying the petty theft.

Cami plucked a glove from the box and held her breath as if alarms would sound. Once the coast was clear, she took another. Then another. Her hands were full as someone knocked at the door. She squealed, dropping some contraband as she darted across the room and shoved the gloves into her book bag, and plopped her butt back on the exam table, winded from that simple yet covert act.

“Y-yes?”

She tried placing a neutral expression on her face, hoping it didn’t reveal how fast her heart was beating, or her fear that a minor sprint consumed most of her energy.

The door opened, and her doctor’s head appeared. “Camille?”

“Dr. Aguilar.”

The last time Cami was in a hospital, besides her own illness, she found out her father had died. Of course, she didn’t remember this. She had been a toddler; her mother and brother recounted the story solemnly to her years later. It was a good enough excuse to avoid hospitals ever since.

Dr. Aguilar almost changed her mind about hospitals. The older woman’s aura of calmness and matronly appearance never failed to put her at ease. Bracelets adorning both arms and rings on all fingers. Plump. Graying hair. She smiled and her eyes went to the blue glove lying on the floor.

“The gloves fell out of the box…” That was a lame excuse.

Author Bio:

Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design.

She is a world traveler having climbed a volcano in Nicaragua, scaled Angkor Wat in the blistering sun, and roamed the Acropolis of Athens. Oh, she also dabbles in short stories occasionally.

If you can’t catch her writing, you can bet she’s overindulging on poke bowls, listening to the same four songs, or chilling with her adorbs doggie. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:
XBTBanner1

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Blog Tour, Character Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway for The Friday Night Mystery Club by Joanna Campbell Slan

 

My Best Friend by Cragan Collins

By Joanna Campbell Slan

My best friend is a stripper.

Scratch that. She’s an exotic dancer.

Yes, Pru Davis is the featured performer at Fast Freddy’s, a gentleman’s club here in Decatur, Illinois. Over time, she’s trained me to call her an exotic dancer, but I have to watch myself. Otherwise, the word “stripper” pops out of my mouth before I can stop it.

I never, ever expected to make friends with a woman who prances around in the buff, let alone become so close. My name is Cragan Collins, the year is 1986, and I’m recently divorced. Since I’ve lived in the Midwest all of my life (so far, at least), I’m pretty conservative. That said, I can’t dislike Pru because of her occupation. After all, that’s her business.

I did, once upon a time, broach the subject with her. “Aren’t the men in your audience exploiting you?” I had asked.

She threw back her head and laughed so hard she almost wet her pants. “That’s a good one,” Pru said, wiping her eyes. “Cragan, I’m exploiting them! See, I’ve been stared at my whole life. One day I figured I should make men pay for the privilege. I was sick and tired of the wolf whistles and the racy comments. I thought to myself, ‘They should put up or shut up.’ Shortly after that, I entered an amateur night contest at a gentleman’s club. I didn’t win, but the manager took me aside and told me I had potential. The rest, as they say, is history.”

Anyone who isn’t blind could see what Pru meant. She’s stunning, so of course, people stare at her. Her long thick hair is naturally red, but the shade is one of those beautiful colors streaked with gold. Her eyes are huge, and her figure is fabulous. Even if you threw a paper bag over Pru’s head, men would still notice her because there’s something innately sexy in her person. Unfortunately, her fantastic looks often tricks people into thinking she can’t possibly be nice or smart, much less both. But she is. Pru is as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. She’s also smart as they come.

Knowing Pru has taught me not to pre-judge people. I would never have guessed that she would be such a sweetheart, but she is. She’s also my best friend.

##

About The Friday Night Mystery Club

 
  Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
  Setting - Illinois 
Spot On Publishing (September 18, 2021)  
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 346 pages 
 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8469766247
  Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09FFQ5YQB
 

Decatur, Illinois/1986 - A nasty divorce leaves Cragan Collins with a mountain of bills and her grandmother to support. She takes a job as an ad salesperson for The Gazette. The market is tough, but Cragan finds a mentor in business reporter, Robert Smithson. One icy January day, Robert is found dead in a city park. His murder is dismissed as gay-on-gay crime. Cragan asks The Friday Night Mystery Club to find justice for Robert. Will Cragan's quest for the truth land her on the obituary page?

Excerpt  
Sadness turned to anger. Who had killed him? And why? Was it because he was gay? Or was it because of his job? I knew that Robert had gotten death threats before. He was a hard-hitting investigative reporter and his beat was area businesses. His work had uncovered fraud, malfeasance, misconduct, and mistreatment of employees. No one wanted to answer the phone when Robert Smithson called.
 
REVIEW
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
 
This is a fabulous start to a new series. We meet Cragan as she is dealing with the aftermath of a horror divorce that has left her in bad financial trouble. Needing to support herself and het grandmother she takes a job at the Gazette. When her mentor is murdered she finds herself getting involved leading to non stop action, hilarious situations, and a great cast of characters. Keeps you guessing until the very end making for a great read. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
 

About Joanna Campbell Slan

Joanna is a New York Times Bestselling, USA Today Bestselling, and Amazon Bestselling author as well as a woman prone to frequent bursts of crafting frenzy, leaving her with burns from her hot glue gun and paint on her clothes. And the mess? Let’s not even go there.

Otherwise, Joanna’s a productive author with more than 80 written projects to her credit. Her non-fiction work includes how to books, a college textbook for public speakers, and books of personal essays (think Chicken Soup for the Soul).

Currently, she writes six fiction series: The Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series (Agatha Award Finalist, contemporary, St. Louis setting, crafting), the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series (contemporary, Florida setting, DIY, and recycling), the Jane Eyre Chronicles (Daphne du Maurier Award Winner, 1830s England, based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic), the Sherlock Holmes Fantasy Thrillers (late 1800s, based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s books), the Tai Chi Mystery Series (featuring a mature female amateur sleuth!) and the Friday Night Mystery Series (set in Decatur, IL in 1986 with a spunky female heroine.)

A former TV talk show host, college teacher, and public relations specialist, Joanna was one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors. She won a Silver Anvil for her work on the original FarmAid concert to benefit farmers.

In her ongoing quest never to see snow again, Joanna lives with her husband and their Havanese puppy, Jax, on an island off the coast of Florida. You can email her at jcslan@joannaslan.com or visit her website at https://linktr.ee/jcslan

Author Links  
Newsletter sign up: https://joannacampbellslan.com/  
Street Team sign up: https://joannacampbellslan.com/  
Amazon Author Page — https://amzn.to/3MxiC5U 
 
Purchase Link - Amazon  
 
 
TOUR PARTICIPANTS  
July 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
July 25 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  
July 26 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
July 26 – Christy's Cozy Corners – GUEST POST  
July 26 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT  
July 27 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT  
July 27 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  
July 27 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – GUEST POST  
July 28 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT  
July 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST  
July 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  
July 29 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST  
July 29 – Books to the Ceiling – CHARACTER GUEST POST  
July 29 – Novels Alive - REVIEW 
July 29 – Novels Alive - SPOTLIGHT  
July 30 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 
July 30 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST  
July 31 - Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT  
July 31 - #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT  
July 31 - BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  
  
   
 Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Blog Tour, Review, & Giveaway for Blue Bloods: After Life by Melissa de la Cruz

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BLUE BLOODS: AFTER LIFE by Melissa de la Cruz Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: BLUE BLOODS: AFTER LIFE

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Pub. Date: July 12, 2022

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 352

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

 

The Blue Bloods are back…more fanged and fabulous than ever.

After defeating Lucifer and sacrificing the love of her life, Jack, Schuyler wakes up back in New York safe and sound. Only it’s not quite the New York she knows, and she’s not in her regular body. She looks different and feels different and so does everyone else. Schuyler soon discovers that in this world, her best friend has a different last name, her parents are both alive and well and one of them is an entirely different person, and the love of her life? Not so dead after all. The catch? Jack has no idea who she is.

As it turns out, Schuyler is not in her New York. She’s not even in her universe. This is an alternate reality. One where Lucifer is alive and well and acting as mayor of New York, Blue Bloods are luring humans to clinics to drain their blood, and Jack is Lucifer’s right hand man. Just when she thinks all is lost, Schuyler is contacted by a familiar friend―the Silver Blood, Kingsley. The Kingsley from her world. He actually remembers the Schuyler she used to be! But he also has a theory, and it’s one she doesn’t like. That Schuyler was sent here to defeat Lucifer. Again. And that she’s the only person in this universe or any universe that can defeat him.

New to the BLUE BLOODS world? Read the original series and the spin off books now!

BLUE BLOODS

Stream the WITCHES ON EAST END TV series on Hulu or watch on Prime Video!

 

REVIEW
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
If you liked the prior Blue Bloods books then you will love this newest one. We follow Schulyer as she discovers that she is in an alternate reality that is quite different then you one she wad used to. Makes for a great new take on characters that we have known and loved/hated. Quite the fun read and I am looking forward to more. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

About Melissa:

Melissa de la Cruz is the author of the #1 New York Times best-selling Descendants series, as well as many other best-selling novels, including Alex & Eliza and all the books in the Blue Bloods series: Blue BloodsMasqueradeRevelationsAfter Life, The Van Alen LegacyKeys to the RepositoryMisguided Angel, Bloody Valentine, Lost in Time, and Gates of Paradise. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and daughter.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

 

Giveaway Details:
1 winner will win a finished copy of BLUE BLOODS: AFTER LIFE, US Only.


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/1/2022

Sadie's Spotlight

Excerpt/IG Post

7/2/2022

BookHounds YA

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

7/3/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

7/4/2022

Ya Books Central

Excerpt/IG Post

7/5/2022

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt/IG Post

7/6/2022

What A Nerd Girl Says

Excerpt/IG Post

7/7/2022

beersbooksandboos

Excerpt/IG Post

7/8/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

7/9/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

Week Three:

7/10/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

7/11/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

7/12/2022

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

7/13/2022

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

7/14/2022

Living in a Bookworld

Excerpt

7/15/2022

Nerdophiles

Review/IG Post

7/16/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

Week Four:

7/17/2022

Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf

IG Review

7/18/2022

pluvioreads

Review/IG Post

7/19/2022

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

7/20/2022

@wraithreads

TikTok Review/IG Post

7/21/2022

@allyluvsbooksalatte

Review/IG Post

7/22/2022

Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog

Review/IG Post

7/23/2022

Books and Zebras

IG Review

Week Five:

7/24/2022

@drewsim12

IG Review/TikTok Post

7/25/2022

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post

7/26/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

7/27/2022

A Bookish Dream

Review/IG Post

7/28/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

7/29/2022

onemused

IG Review

7/30/2022

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

Week Six:

7/31/2022

@lexijava

Review/IG Post