Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Marianne Harden's Malicious Mischief Cover Reveal and Giveaway

I am so glad to be a part of the cover reveal for Malicious Mischief by Marianne Harden. So here it is the cover:

I love the look of this cover. It catches your attention and makes you want to stop and look and get the book to read.


Malicious Mischief (Mischief and Mayhem, #1)

 by Marianne Harden


Excerpt

 

~When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty~

Am I a flake? Sort of. But I’m trying to change. My grandfather has property tax issues, and what troubles Granddad, troubles me. Good thing I’ve held down a steady job for months. A major big deal. Not the getting a job part—I’ve had lots—but the held down aspect. Somehow, I always end up unemployed, but not today.

Today, I am Rylie Tabitha Keyes, chauffeur to the seniors at Fountain of Youth Retirement Home (FoY.)

It was dawn Sunday as I eased my employer’s van from one freeway onto another. After that, I concentrated on the wet asphalt up ahead. I didn’t want to think about my job history or our financial woes. Instead I focused on the summery sunrise over the Cascade Mountains due east. I stared at it a moment, charmed by its contrast to the more typical Bellevue, Washington gloom brooding overhead.

I should’ve been asleep, but I needed to toss trash from a fundraiser rolling around in the back of the van. Leland Rosenberg, my boss at Fountain of Youth Retirement Home, had asked me to dump the bags at his second business, Rosenberg Laboratory, as FoY’s Dumpsters were full from a recent bathroom remodel. His mood had been edgy, kind of insistent I dispose of them last night. I confess, before I could carry out this task, a minor traffic accident and an all-important overnight obligation had waylaid me. I didn’t bother to sigh over how blunders always seemed to pepper my work performance. Some things were fated to be. After all, I slogged at my job for money not joy. It isn't that I don't like working at FoY, it just isn’t my dream gig. You see, I yearned to be a private detective, a Veronica Mars 2.0. Problem is, my grandfather is against the idea. Dead set against it.

So with the stench from the trash bags mounting, I steered FoY’s van onto the off-ramp and headed toward Rosenberg Laboratory just off the freeway exit. My mind was filled with thoughts of a steamy shower, maybe a few hours of shut-eye before punching the clock at nine. I stared forward, squinted. And iced over. Up ahead. Wrong-way traveling. A panel truck advanced, peeling rubber.

Faster.

Closer.

Zeroed in to hit me.

I whipped the van off the road, the red, white, and blue panel truck whizzing past. I slammed on the brakes, fighting to control the wheel. I wrestled with it, panicked, my mind flashing on one fortunate thing: no seniors were in the van.

Tons of hazards burst before my eyes. I struggled to absorb them. A mangled guardrail zigzagged up ahead; its many gaps from other out-of-control vehicles big as life. Worse was the wall of giant Douglas-firs growing beyond, lower trunks scarred, limbs low and swaying.

I was going to careen through the railing.

I was going to hit the trees.

I was going to die.

 

Book Summary

 

Career chameleon, Rylie Keyes, must keep her current job. If not, the tax assessor will evict her ailing grandfather and auction off their ancestral home. When a senior she shuttles for a Bellevue, Washington retirement home winds up dead in her minibus, sticky with a half-eaten s'more, head clad in a cellophane bag, and a pocketed complaint letter accusing her of driving by Braille, her goal to keep her job hits a road bump.

 

The deceased was thought to be a penniless Nazi concentration camp survivor with a silly grudge against Rylie. However, the victim has enemies who will stop at nothing to keep their part in the murder a secret.

 

Forced to dust off the PI training she's kept hidden from her ex-detective grandfather, Rylie must align with a circus-bike-wheeling Samoan to solve the murder, all while juggling the attentions of two very hot police officers.

 

Book Links

 




 

 

About Marianne Harden

 

Marianne Harden loves a good laugh. So much so, she cannot stop humor from spilling into her books. Over the years she has backpacked through the wilds of Australia, explored the exotics of Asia, soaked up the sun in the Caribbean, and delighted in the historic riches of Europe. Her goals in life are simple: do more good than harm and someday master the do-not-mess-with-me look. She divides her time between Switzerland and Washington State where she lives with her husband and two children.

 

Find Marianne Harden

 




 
 

Giveaway Rafflecopter

 

Marianne is giving away a $25 gift card to the book retailer of the winner’s choice. The Rafflecopter code is below:

 

 

 

 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, May 23, 2013

What Are You Reading

A long weekend is upon us so what is in your future to read this weekend? I will be reading the third book in the Granny Apples series Gem of a Ghost (Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery). I really enjoyed the first two books and wanted to read the next one too. I hope it is as good as the others, I will be letting you know what I think of it.

Just a reminder of what to expect from some of my favorite authors in the next few months, here is a list of books coming out:
1. Daryl Wood Gerber new series Cookbook Nook Mystery first book Final Sentence is coming out July 2, 2013 check her website  http://www.darylwoodgerber.com/homepage.html out for more information
2. Kate Carlisle has a new one A Cookbook Conspiracy: A Bibliophile Mystery  June of 2013 check out her site for more information http://www.katecarlisle.com/index-mystery.php
3. Krista Davis has a new book The Diva Frosts a Cupcake (A Domestic Diva Mystery) coming out June 3, 2013 if you want more info go to her website http://divamysteries.com
4. Heather Graham has a new book in her Krewe Hunters series The Night Is Alive (Krewe of Hunters #10) out in July 2013
Some new authors for me that have books coming out in June and July are
1. Peg Cochran with her book Steamed to Death (A Gourmet De-Lite Mystery) will be out in June 2013
2. Sheila Connolly with her book Monument to the Dead A Museum Mystery  out June 2013
3. Donna Andrews with her book Hen of the Baskervilles (Meg Langslow #15) out July 2013
4. Lorna Barrett with her book Not the Killing Type (Booktown Mystery #7) out July 2013
5. Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg has a new book The Heist out in June 18 2013

I know that there are probably more books due out in June and July that I don't know about let me know if you have any favorites coming out then. Looks like it will be a great beginning to a summer of good books.

Leave me a comment and tell me what you will be reading this weekend and any books you are looking forward to coming out in June or July.

For now though:

Grab a cup of Coffee or Tea, some chocolate and a good book and KEEP READING!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini A Ghost of Granny Apples Series book 2 Review

I like to read a lot of different mysteries from Clive Cussler and Kathy Reichs to Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes to Cozy Mysteries. I have found several authors that I try to read all of  their books, but I am always looking for new authors and series to read. What authors and series do you like? What other genres do you read? I have found that The Ghost of Granny Apples Series to be one of my favorites. If you like a good cozy mystery that has a good plot and characters as well as paranormal then you might want to try this series. I just finished reading the second book in this series and after I finish another book will be reading the third book. If you want to find out more about Sue Ann Jaffarian and her books you can go to her site http://sueannjaffarian.com/ 
 Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini A Ghost of Granny Apples Series book 2 by Sue Ann Jaffarian

This is a enjoyable book. This is book 2 in the A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery series. This series just gets better with each book. Emma is on vacation and meets the ghost of a young girl in a polka dot bikini. Emma and the ghost of Granny Apples try to help her and to find out how she died. Solving a mystery from over 40 years ago is challenging, especially when your ex father in law might know the victim. Emma is determined to find out what happened and who is responsible, which might prove hazardous to her health. If you haven't read this series I would recommend it. Murder, cover up, ghosts and a mystery that will keep you wanting to read more equals a really fun, fast and good read.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

What are you reading?

Hope all of you are having a great day and week. It is back in the 60's and 70's here so we have the windows open and enjoying the fresh air. I have been busy crocheting and reading as well as cooking, baking and in my spare time doing genealogy. I have been busy and loving every minute of it. What other hobbies do you have besides reading? I love genealogy, crafts, crocheting, camping, hiking, cross stitch and of course reading. I think you can find a mystery book that just about covers all of these and I try to do just that. If you like the outdoors Nevada Barr has a good series Anna Pigeon Mysteries set in National Parks. Good series for cooking and baking are Joanne Fluke Hannah Swensen series, Krista Davis A Domestic Diva series, Livia J Washburn A Fresh Baked Series, Laura Childs with her Tea Shop Mystery Series and Cackleberry Club Mystery Series, Cleo Coyle with her Coffee House Mystery series, Avery Aames with her A Cheese Shop Mystery Series, Daryl Wood Gerber with the new series The Cookbook Nook Series, and Jenn McKinlay Cupcake Bakery Mystery series and the list can go on and on. There even genealogy mystery series of which I haven't read any yet but plan too. Just about anything you are interested in has a cozy mystery series probably. A great site to help you find a series and I use it all the time is http://cozy-mystery.com/ go to this site and see if you can find a series and author you like.

I finished reading Too Big To Miss an Odelia Grey Mystery by Sue Ann Jaffarian. It is the first book in the series and I liked it. Good book. Odelia Grey is a BBW who is middle aged and never married. When her friend dies she finds out some shocking secrets about her and has to find out what really happened to her. Good twists and fun read. It is humorous at times, touching, add a little romance and a good keep you guessing mystery and it all equals a fun good read.

I am now reading another book of Sue Ann Jaffarian, Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini A Ghost of Granny Apples Series book 2. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and so far this book is right up there with the first.

Tell me about your hobbies, and what you are reading. Looking forward to reading your comments.

For now Grab a cup of Coffee or Tea, some chocolate, and a good book and KEEP READING!