Author: Bubble Bubble Books and Trouble

Cindy Lou’s Last Minute Gift Guide

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies4 Comments

The stockings are hung, the tree is trimmed, and I’m totally freaking out!  Christmas is almost here and I still have a ton of shopping to do! If you, like me, need some help finding the perfect gift for that “hard to buy for” person on your list, check out Cindy Lou’s handy-dandy gift guide. Books make fabulous gifts. They’re cheap, easy to wrap, and offer hours of entertainment!  E-books are great, but you can’t wrap them up in a pretty little bow. Be sure to search for these titles and more at your local independent bookstore. BookPeople here I come!

Isn’t Cindy Lou the cutest? You should pay her a visit at the former Town Lake Animal Shelter. She’s sweet, adorable and looking for a good home! For more info, go to the Austin Pets Alive website. [UPDATE: This sweet pup just got adopted! But if you’re in the market for a new four-legged friend, check out the available doggies and kitties on the APA! website.]

FOR YOUR BEST GAL PAL
Hot Guys and Baby Animals by Audrey Khuner and Carolyn Newman

Hot guys and baby animals!!!! Need I say more? Whoever thought of this concept is a freaking genius. My only complaint is that not all of the men are shirtless. But other than that, this book is a win-win for hot guy appreciators and nonprofit animal rescues. That’s right – proceeds from this book go to nonprofits like SPCA. I think it is my civic duty to go out and buy this book for each of my gal pals!


FOR THE FASHIONISTA
Killer Hair by Ellen Byerrum

This fun little mystery series is chick lit at its finest! I picked up Killer Hair after watching the movie adaptation on Lifetime. As a journalist and wannabe sleuth, I can’t resist mysteries involving snoopy reporters who solve crimes with their hot detective boyfriends. In this series, our fearless protagonist, Lacey Smithsonian (no relation to the museum) reluctantly writes a fashion column for a small daily in Washington D.C. Apparently our nation’s Capital is the home of the helmet hairdo, shoulder pads and boxy power-suits – yikes! In this book (the first installment in the series) she teams up with her two quirky gal pals to find the killer of an up-and-coming celebrity hair stylist. Filled with fashion tips, snappy dialogue, twists and turns, this is a really fun little whodunit!

FOR THE BOOK CLUB GOER
Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

If you’re looking for a book that will give you A LOT to talk about – this one’s for you! Wow – this is one powerful book about abandonment, domestic violence and personal transformation. Rose Mae Lolley is one character I will never forget. Abandoned by her mother and forced to live with an abusive father, she lost her innocence and love for life at a very young age. Caught in a vicious cycle of abuse, Rose marries a psychotic man who beats her to a pulp on a regular basis. When she finally snaps, she grabs a pistol and her dog and makes a run for it. When her survival instinct kicks into gear, she ditches her identity as the subservient wife and develops an ass-kicking, gun-toting alternate personality. I never really understood why women stay with their violent husbands until I read this book, which really delves into the psyche of abused women.

FOR THE BOOK LOVER
The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life by Kathy L. Patrick

This book makes a great gift for anyone who loves to read. While shopping at a super-cute old-timey drug store/soda fountain in Jefferson, I found this book sandwiched between racks of feather boas and floppy hats. The book cover depicting a gaggle of fun-loving women decked out in tiaras and leopard-print ensembles seemed to be calling my name. Filled with inspiring quotes, recommended reading lists and stories of family and friendship, this book has a little something for everyone. A lot of the essays  really struck a chord with me, especially the chapter about how Kathy (who actually avoided reading as a kid) found her passion for all things literary after her teacher recommended that she read “Honestly, Katie John.” Just that little bit of encouragement spurred her love of reading and gave her the confidence to write. On a personal note, this really reminded me of when a 9th grade teacher wrote a footnote in one of my essays that said, “You’re a talented writer. You should pursue this.” Mr. Demaro, wherever you are, THANK YOU!

FOR JUST ABOUT ANYONE ON YOUR LIST!
Another Bad Dog Book by Joni B. Cole

This book makes a great gift for anyone on your list who likes to laugh! You don’t even have to be a dog lover (though I don’t understand why you wouldn’t be!) to get hours of entertainment out of this collection of funny and inspiring essays.  From dealing with a terrible tween and aging parents to finding inspiration at an American Idol concert, this talented author expertly combines humor with some pretty weighty issues. Reading this book is like visiting with your best gal pal. I actually had to force myself to slow down and savor it because I didn’t want to say goodbye to my new dog-loving friend. The fact that she’s a Murder She Wrote Fan is just the icing on the cake!

FOR THE SOUTHERN BELLE
The Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series by Carolyn Haines

This mystery series is sure to please any gal – Southern or not – who enjoys a good atmospheric mystery set in the Deep South. The leading lady, Sarah Booth Delaney is one of my favorite protagonists, which says a lot because I’m hooked on several mystery series. She’s smart, sassy and not afraid to risk life and limb to save her friends from fiendish murderers. How I wish I could hang out with Sarah Booth and her bestie, Tinkie, on a lazy Sunday afternoon drinking mint juleps on the porch of her beloved plantation home. Oh and did I mention that in between writing and teaching, this wonderful author rescues animals? She’s truly fabulous and anyone who reads her books will agree!

FOR THE GHOST HUNTER
Paranormal State by Ryan Buell

Okay, okay I know this is not chick lit, but I have to include it! I’m a total sucker for ghost-hunting shows – even the ones that I know are fake! Although I have to admit that I mainly watch Ghost Adventures because Zach Bagans is a hottie. But out of all of them, Paranormal State is the spookiest. Ryan Buell genuinely wants to help people rid their houses of malevolent spirits – and he’s not afraid to confront even the most demonic entities. I’ve always wondered what happens behind the scenes, and this book really fills in the blanks. You learn more about the clients (the good and the bad) and the eerie encounters that were edited out of the 30-minute episodes. I made the mistake of reading this book while my hubby was out of town and had to sleep with all the lights on! If you’re looking for a good scare, check this one out.

Gizzy’s Pick: Decked with Folly by Kate Kingsbury

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies3 Comments

Sometimes I just want to run away screaming from our technology-obsessed world, and the madness of reality TV.  I long for the days when I could go out to lunch with a friend without being interrupted by a chirping smart phone.  Remember the good ol’ days when friends would actually pick up the phone to wish you a happy birthday rather than posting a quick and dirty greeting on your Facebook wall? Shoot – you don’t even have to remember your friends’ birthdays anymore because Facebook will do that for you!  Thanks to social media, we don’t have to stop thinking about ourselves for even a moment. 

So when I need a break from reality (which happens a lot!) I pick up one of Kate Kingsbury’s cozy Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries. Set in Edwardian England – an era devoid of all things electronic – her fun little whodunits surround a posh seaside country club filled with an eclectic mix of quirky characters. 

When Christmastime rolls around, there’s no better place to be than the Pennyfoot Hotel, where the comforting aromas of pine and cedar infuse the air and the halls are festooned with holiday cheer. But if you want to live to see the New Year, it might be a good idea to admire the resplendent hotel from afar! The dreaded “Christmas Curse” (aka somebody drops dead every December) strikes again. And this time the body of Ian Rossiter, a former employee of the Pennyfoot, is found floating in the hotel duck pond. Cecily Baxter – the hotel’s proprietress and part-time amateur sleuth – suspects foul play after she connects a missing candlestick to the bludgeoned dent in Ian’s head. 

All fingers point to the hotel’s head housemaid, Gertie, who threatened Ian with a kitchen knife after he tried to kidnap her twins in the middle of the night. But when Cecily discovers plenty of others wanted Ian dead, she makes it her mission to clear Gertie’s name and nab the killer before another dead body shows up under the tree. 

In true Agatha Christie style, our cunning sleuth investigates a slew of suspects and stumbles upon clues when their stories don’t add up. What really happened the night of Ian’s death when two gallant suitors came to Gerty’s rescue? Let’s take a look at our suspects, shall we!

Gertie: If anyone has motive to kill that wormy Ian, it’s Gertie! Not only did he dupe her into a false marriage, he skipped town right after the birth of their twins. What scum! 

Clyde: The hotel’s head groundskeeper. Tall, dark and mysterious, there seems to be a lot more to this guy than a toolbox and a strong pair of arms. Did anger get the best of him that fateful night when he protected Gertie from Ian’s attack?  

Dan: Gertie’s flakey boyfriend. Handsome, successful and emotionally stable, Dan is a real catch. Too bad he doesn’t seem interested in popping the question.  When Gertie finds out he had a row with Ian that ill-fated night,  she begins to wonder if he could be capable of murder. 

Mabel: A very unpopular housemaid who just can’t seem to do her job right. For some inexplicable reason, this melancholy lonewolf seems to be hiding something. Why is she so depressed? And why is she always caught wandering into guests’ rooms for no reason? 

Gloria: Ian’s other wife. With nowhere to go after her husband’s untimely death, she  has no other option but to live on the streets and beg for money. Overwhelmed by the widow’s desperation, Cecily offers to let her stay at the Pennyfoot until she can get back on her feet. She soon regrets her generous offer when she realizes that Gloria could make trouble for Gertie. Is this all an elaborate plan to get back at her no-good husband and his true love? And why did she lie about her whereabouts the night Ian was murdered? 

Sid: The Pennyfoot’s newest stable-boy.  This shady fellow has a way with the ladies, and boy does he have designs on Gertie. Although he may seem charming to the hotel’s chambermaids, Gertie’s onto his games. When his flirtations escalate to harassment, Gertie begins to wonder if he’s the one who’s trying to frame her for murder.

Archibald:  A very shady hotel guest who seems to show up at the most inopportune times.  This troublemaker, who claims to be an herbal-remedy specialist, seems to be dead-set on spreading hysteria by gossiping about the murder.  Who is he really – and why does he seem to be lurking around every dark corner? 

If you’re in the mood for a good old fashioned mystery that’ll get you in the mood for Christmas – take a little trip to the Pennyfoot Hotel! This book is best paired with a steaming mug of spiked eggnog and your silliest pair of fluffy slippers.  And don’t forget to turn off those incessant chirping gadgets!

An Old Fashioned Christmas

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies3 Comments

December has reared its red-and-green tinseled head again. Time to string the lights, deck the halls, brave the malls and make an appearance at those obligatory holiday parties. After that dreaded episode involving a flaming eggnog at my husband’s office party, I think I’m going to lay low this year. There will be no mall madness, gridlock traffic or awkward small talk with strangers for this girl! I vow to relish the holidays in the comfort of my own home with a 14-lb cat on my lap. And what better way to enjoy the holidays than to watch those Christmassy Hallmark and Fa-La-La-La Lifetime  flicks? Come on ladies, you have to admit, they’re so bad they’re good!

My absolute favorite Hallmark movie is – hands down – is An  Old Fashioned Christmas, which is based on a short story by Louisa May Alcott.  Everything about this movie – from the picturesque Irish castle to high-quality acting to the hot male lead – had me completely enthralled!  If you’re a fan of atmospheric gothic romances, set this one up on your DVR.

The story, which is a sequel to An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, begins when Tilly and her high-society grandmother Isabella

Cameron Shannon (played by Leon Ockenden) and his coniving mother, Lady Shannon

pay a visit to Castle Shannon to celebrate Christmas with the Earl of Shannon. In hopes of becoming a great writer, Tilly is excited to meet with the Earl, who happens to be a renowned poet. And unbeknownst to her grandmother, who scorned her own daughter for marrying a poor farmer, Tilly has plans to meet with her long-lost paternal grandfather.

Tensions rise when they discover the scheming Lady of Shannon has an agenda of her own. They’re fortune is gone and she needs to marry her son Cameron off to a highfalutin society lady stat! But little does she know, Tilly is already engaged. Romantic tension ennsues when Tilly is unable to resist Cameron’s flirtations – and who can blame her – he’s smoking hot!

After Tilly’s control-freak grandmother catches on to the undeniable chemistry between her starry-eyed grandaughter and the ill-mannered party boy, she does everything in her power to keep them apart. I won’t give away anymore because you HAVE to watch the movie! For more details, go here.

Happy holidays fellow chick lit lovers!

P.S. Just say NO to flaming eggnogs!

Book Review & Giveaway: The Pig and Me by Lindsay Frucci

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies6 Comments

  I never knew I liked memoirs until I picked up Lindsay Frucci’s The Pig and Me. When she contacted me about her new book, I thought it would be filled with the nuances of running a business. But I love those delicious little fat-free brownies, so why not give it a chance? Little did I know, this rollercoaster ride of a book had me in its grip from page one all the way to the epilogue. This is the first time in a long time I have actually read a book in one sitting. Seriously guys, it’s just as good – and as addictive – as those No-Pudge brownies! 

It all begins one warm summer morning when Lindsay, a forty-something stay-at-home-mom, realized her jeans were fitting a little too snug. Bogged down by financial stress and a demanding real estate job, she knew she needed to do something big to help her family recover from bankruptcy… and lose some weight in the process. While ruminating about her financial woes and weight gain, a light bulb flashed above her head: She needed to build a better brownie.   

After turning her kitchen into a mad scientist lab filled with mixing bowls, pans and batches of brownies, she discovered a key ingredient that made her healthy brownies taste sinfully delicious: yogurt. She knew she had to share her brownies with the world when her friends and family all agreed that they tasted just as good – if not better – than the fat-laden gooey goodness she used to make with gobs of butter and chocolate chips. 

On a leap of faith, she decides to embark on the biggest and most challenging journey of her personal and professional life. When she announced her new business endeavor to her husband, he was unenthused to say the least. 

 “You’re finally making enough money to pay the bills,” he says with suppressed anger. “Why start a business you know nothing about?” 

“I can learn,” she said with naively foolish yet stubborn certainty. “I can do this.” 

And so begins Lindsay’s quest to make No Pudge Brownies a household name, not an easy feat for a busy mom with very little knowledge of the business world. Plus it doesn’t help when your own husband isn’t in your corner. Armed with a batch of brownies and whole lot of moxie, Lindsay sets forth into the cutthroat food industry by wowing her very first business consultant. When he advised her to stop the silly brownie business and go back to mothering her children, she almost called it quits. But before she could scurry out of the building like kicked dog, in walks her soon-to-be hero, Bob Fox. A retired business executive from General Mills, this guy knows what sells. And after taking a bite out of one of her brownies, he knew she was sitting on a goldmine. 

Teaming up with Bob and his colleague (another retired food industry exec) Jay Albert, Lindsay learned the how-to’s of owning and operating a diet-friendly brownie company.  These two men, who she calls “her angels,” helped her package, sell and market her bags of brownies, which involved countless hours of food demonstrations, stock room deliveries, research and number crunching. 

From her first food demo at the local grocery store, to the creation of her pink smiling pig logo, to her very first fancy foods trade show, these two wonderful men were there for her through thick and thin. I don’t know if it was divine intervention or what – but I have a feeling Bob and Jay came into her life for a reason. And throughout the book, you’ll see a number of people swoop in to help this brave entrepreneur overcome some really tough situations.

Like a cheerleader on the sidelines, I found myself whooping with glee when she conquered obstacles like catching the interests of food industry big wigs like Weight Watchers, Trader Joes or Ben & Jerry’s. One of my favorite “take that!” moments was when her husband found her pink smiling pig logo smiling back at him from the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Boo Yeah!  I was also riveted by her personal struggles like taking care of her aging father, raising two kids while juggling a high-stress job, and dealing with tension (aka the 800-lb gorilla) between her and her husband. 

On a personal note, I grew up hearing “you can’t” by the people who had the biggest influence on me.   If I listened to them, who knows what kind of path I would have taken in life? Although I have no interest in making a name for myself in the business world, this book really inspires me to go ahead and take that leap of faith into the wonderful world of book publishing. At the risk of sounding like a self-help guru, I must point out that life is short, so why take the path of least resistance? Whether you plan to become a novelist, build a business empire, or climb Mount Everest – this book will give you a good kick in the pants! 

I should also add that The Pig and Me was not picked up by those persnickety publishing houses, so Lindsay is counting on her readers to spread the word. I’m hoping that – just like her surprisingly delicious fat-free brownies – this book will get picked up by someone important and will end on the New York Times bestsellers list. Considering that this is a self-published book by a first-time author, I wasn’t expecting too much in terms of writing. Boy was I wrong! Chock-full of humor, witty dialogue and insightful prose, this book is very well written and full of surprises – even until the very last page! Lindsay is a very talented writer, and I hope to see more books by her in the future.

How to win The Pig and Me:
Simply post a comment!  

Giveaway ends Dec. 31.

A Cornucopia of Cozies!

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies3 Comments

Thanksgiving is just around the corner – and there’s no better way to get in the turkey-eating spirit than by curling up with a good fall-themed cozy! Lucky for me, my husband is the Turkey master, so I get to spend my blissful day off from work devouring a good mystery. While searching for the perfect Thanksgiving-themed book, I narrowed it down to these fun little cozies. Which one should I choose?

A Catered Thanksgiving by Isis Crawford

Synopsis:Sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons have handled plenty of catering challenges with grace and aplomb. But this Thanksgiving, they’re cooking a feast for felons. Whipping up Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings can be stressful for anyone, but that goes double for the Field family. They know that every family get-together has to be picture perfect, or they risk getting cut out of dominating patriarch Monty’s extremely lucrative will.

That’s where A Little Taste of Heaven, Bernie and Libby’s catering company, comes in. Surely with their lumpless mashed potatoes and to-die-for gravy on the table, even the super-dysfunctional Fields can pretend to get along for one meal. But no one can dress up the disaster when the cover-worthy turkey goes boom right in Monty Field’s scowling face, sending him to that great dining room in the sky.

A Killer Crop by Sheila Connolly

Synopsis: After an English professor-and old friend of her mother-is found dead in a cider house, orchard owner Meg Corey starts to wonder: Could her own mother have committed murder?

 

 

Fatal Feast by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain

Synopsis: The newest novel in the USA Today bestselling series finds Jessica Fletcher cooking up a heartwarming holiday dinner-and a fresh serving of trouble…Jessica Fletcher would like nothing more than to sit back and relax as Thanksgiving comes to Cabot Cove. But this year, she’s already got more on her plate than she can handle. Jessica is suffering from a rare case of writer’s block, and the deadline for her new novel is fast approaching.

 

Death of a Turkey by Kate Grilley Borden

Synopsis: It’s Thanksgiving–and it’s not just the turkey who’s in danger. As tourists arrive at Cobb’s Landing to enjoy an authentic Colonial-style Thanksgiving, mayor Peggy Turner would be thankful for nothing more than a clue as to who killed her neighbor–a clue that didn’t point to her. 

 
 
| 
Thanksgiving by Janet Evonovich

Synopsis: When Megan Murphy discovers a floppy-eared rabbit gnawing on the hem of her skirt, she means to give its careless owner a piece of her mind, but Dr. Patrick Hunter is too attractive to stay mad at for long. As for Patrick, he wants nothing more than to play house with Maggie—and make Thanksgiving dinner for their families. But Megan has wept over one failed love, and she’s afraid to risk her heart again. Can the good doctor help heal her heart?

Chihuahua of the Baskervilles by Esri Allbritten

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies1 Comment

How in the world did this author know how to package my most favorite things – adorable little costume-clad dogs, ghosts and travel writing – into an off-the-wall who dunnit? It’s almost eerie how this book seems to be tailor-made just for little ol’ me!  With a title like this,  how could I go wrong?

Fortunately the book met my expectations – and then some! Although Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes and Watson don’t make an appearance, there’s a Scooby Doo-like team of travel-writing ghost hunters on the case. Struggling to keep Tripping Magazine afloat, the trio of freelancers take on a rather unusual case involving the ghost of a dearly departed Chihuahua who’s haunting his mistress, Charlotte Baskerville.

 Set in the charming town of Manitou Springs – home of the famous coffin races – the mystery unfolds when Charlotte encounters the ghost of her long-dead pup wandering her home’s grounds at night. The owner and operator of a successful doggie clothing boutique, Charlotte is surrounded by family and friends, or shall I say frenemies, who don’t all seem to have her best interests at heart. 

One particularly despicable character is Thomas, Charlotte’s curmudgeon husband who insists that she’s going senile. Ashamed by his inability to keep the family business afloat, Thomas is threatened by his wife’s success and even has the nerve to mock her adorable doggie outfits. What a creep! Although he claims to be concerned about her mental competence, it seems as though he’s more interested in her money than her wellbeing. 

When Petey’s luminescent apparition (which appears to be doused in glow-in-the-dark makeup) begins to bark cryptic messages sounding suspiciously like “divorce Thomas,” the trio of travel writers begin to wonder if someone in the Baskerville houehold is toying with Charlotte to get their paws on her fortune. And when Charlotte doesn’t heed the warnings, Thomas ends up dead.

 Are supernatural forces at work? Or is this a case of old-fashioned murder? Let’s take a look at our suspects and their celebrity look-alikes.

Charlotte: Could this all be a facade to promote her fashion line? Perhaps this sweet little old lady is responsible for her husband’s death. Who could blame her?

 

 

Ivan: A fame-hungry dog trainer who works with Charlotte and her four-legged fashion models. Obsessed with becoming the next Cesar Milan, this Russian brute will stop at nothing to get his own TV show. 

 

 
Ellen: Charlotte’s best friend and colleague. Although she’s grateful Charlotte took her in during a rough patch, Ellen wants to be a business partner, not a hired hand. As the lead designer and manufacturer of Petey’s Closet, she deserves a lot more than a meager salary and she’s about to reach a breaking point. Is she angry enough to scare Charlotte to death? And why is her sink spotted with glow-in-the-dark paint?

Bob: Charlotte’s nosey neighbor who’s obsessed with acai berries. A fledgling entrepreneur, he’s constantly pestering Charlotte to help him peddle his “cancer-fighting” dog food line “Petey’s Pride.”

 

  
Cheri: Charlotte’s alcoholic granddaughter who seems to be falling off the wagon. After another stint in rehab, the dark-haired beauty is recovering, or shall I say mooching, at Charlotte’s grand estate. Although she seems sweet and interested in helping her grandmother market her goods, something isn’t quite right. Is she trying to get her life back in order, or is she transporting evidence in those mysterious boxes when she sneaks out of the house in the dead of night?


Lila and Chum: Charlotte’s two beloved Chihuahuas. Yes these pups are cute and cuddly. But are they using their charming good looks to get under Charlotte’s skin? Ha ha – just kidding! Dogs could never be capable of murder….cats, however, are another story.

It all comes to a head at the Emma Caufield Coffin Race, which is a real thing in Manitou Springs. Apparently a young girl named Emma Caufield died of turburculosis back in the early 1900s. Her coffin, which was buried on the slope of a mountain, became unearthed during a storm and slid downstream into town. Legend has it she was later buried in an unmarked grave and her ghost haunts the slopes of Red Mountain. Some say she won’t rest until her body is returned to the gravesite she chose for herself. So to commemorate her spirit, the townsfolk of Manitou Springs put on a big coffin race every year with costumes and tricked out caskets – how cool is that! Man, and I thought Austin was weird.

If you, like me, love adorable little dogs, ghosts, eccentric characters, and punchy one-liners, check this one out. It’s a lot of fun and a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s night. I’m excited to see what happens when the travel writers investigate their next case involving two sisters and a haunted painting. Do I smell a series? I hope so!

Carolyn Haines on Writing Strong Women Blog Talk Radio!

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies1 Comment
Sylvia Dickey Smith

Attention all southern mystery fans! Check out Carolyn Haines’ interview on author Sylvia Dickey Smith’s “Writing Strong Women” blog talk radio! These are two charming women who really know their stuff about writing, southern culture and girl power! Listen to the podcast.

Carolyn Haines

From Sylvia’s Blog Talk Radio: Catch up with Carolyn Haines and learn why she chooses to write strong women, and where her inspiration comes from.

“A lot of people ask me how I started writing about the Mississippi Delta. My hometown, Lucedale, is way down in the Southeast corner of the state. That section is called the pine barrens, and it lives up to its name. Pine trees are a cash crop, and thousands of acres were once owned by the big paper companies. It’s a world very different from the Mississippi Delta.”

Die for Me by Amy Plum

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After losing her parents in a car wreck, Kate Mercier must leave her happy Brooklin home to live with her artsy grandparents in Paris. Drowning in the depths of despair, she immerses herself in books and Parisian art. Unlike her sister, who distracts herself with boyfriends and club-hopping, Kate spends her days at a local café re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Every day is the same…that is until she she meets Vincent.

Tall, dark and mysterious, he’s everything a brooding  teenage girl dreams of. Even though Kate refuses to let herself feel love for anyone ever again, she can’t help but give in to his advances. And just when the walls around her heart begin to crumble, she discovers that his world is surrounded by the one thing that scares her the most: death.

In this new spin on YA paranormal romance, this talented author offers up a supernatural being that I have yet to encounter: A revenant. Vincent and his band of pseudo-siblings are undead beings who are forced to sacrifice themselves over and over again to save the lives of innocent people.

With two star-crossed lovers – drawn to each other and miserable with despair when apart – it sounds like Amy is taking a page from  Stephanie Meyer’s playbook. However, our fearless leading lady isn’t too quick to sacrifice her humanity and put her family members in danger for a boy she just met.  But alas, unrequited love conquers all, and Kate decides to take the plunge.

I would also like to add that there are no weird subhuman babies with werewolf boyfriends involved, which is a big plus in my book. I may not win any popularity contests by saying this, but really Stephanie, what were you thinking when you came up with Renesme?

But I digress…if you are a fan of atmospheric paranormal love stories, check this one out. I’m interested to see what happens next when Vincent and his brethren face off with their evil counterparts, the Numa. Unlike the heroic revenants, the Numa’s goal is to wreak havoc on the City of Lights – and possibly the world over – by taking the lives of others.

Addendum: The Hollywood Game

Sometimes when I’m reading a good book, I like to play what I call the “Hollywood Game.” Like a literary casting agent, I handpick a celebrity who best fits the descriptions of the characters. 

While reading Die for Me, I couldn’t help but envision Ty Borden (the cute ranch hand in Heartland) playing the part of Vincent. With his shaggy mop of dark hair skimming over his forehead, chiseled features and dark eyelashes, this relatively unknown actor really fits the bill.

 

 

As for the leading lady, when I saw the book cover depicting a waiflike girl with long wavy hair, I instantly pictured Shanae Grimes (90210) playing the part of Kate Mercier. What do you think? Did I get it right, or am I way off the mark?

In My Mailbox: The Pig and Me by Lindsay Frucci

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn CoziesLeave a comment

Back when I started Weight Watchers (which by the way is the best diet out there!) I had to severely restrict all of my most favorite sinfully delicious treats – including chocolate brownies. It was incredibly hard – dare I say almost impossible – to swap out a sugary confection for a piece of fruit. But thanks to No Pudge Brownies, I didn’t have to go cold turkey! So you can imagine my excitement when the creator of these delectable treats offered to send me her new book! Even if you’re a skinny-minnie who can eat fat-laden goodies without permanently gluing a stick of butter to your hips –  this book is a great read for anyone interested in inspiring stories about fearless women who rise up and conquer in defiance of adversity – Ya Ya sisters!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren.

Here’s a synapsis:

When a personal bankruptcy robbed her family of financial security, Lindsay Frucci decided the way back to marital and family bliss was to start a business that would make gobs of money. Out of the mantra “there must be something I can do” and a passion for fat-laden, fudgy brownies that made it hard to zip her jeans, an idea was born: healthy brownies for the masses. In a leap of faith borne on the wings of innocence and naiveté, she founded No Pudge! Foods, Inc., and began an epic journey of unexpected personal growth and discovery. Frucci owned No Pudge! for ten years, and when she sold it, her Fat Free Fudge Brownie Mixes were sold in every major grocery chain in the United States. The fairy tale is an enviable, business success story. The reality is the story of a woman who was raised hearing “you can’t” and found, to her surprise and great satisfaction, she could – and then some.

Fever Moon by Carolyn Haines

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies5 Comments

Legend has it the loup-garou, a shape-shifting fiend with a human body and the head of a wolf, prowls the swamps of Louisiana looking for its next meal.

Sure, the concept of a flesh-eating Cajun werewolf may seem far-fetched, but for the people of New Iberia parish, the legend is something to be feared.

The story begins when Deputy Ramond Thibodeaux stumbles upon the gruesome scene of Adele Herbert, the town outcast, crouching over the ravaged body of Henry Bastian, a wealthy plantation owner.

In all the horrors he witnessed while fighting in the war, he’d never seen anything that chilled him so deeply.

“For one long moment he stood and stared at the woman. At what lay at her feet. At the blood glistening in the moonlight on her hands and face and the rivulets of it tracing the path of the rain along the dirt road. At the long, twisted ropes of intestines that had been pulled from  the savaged abdomen of the dead man.”

And so begins Haines’ chilling story of murder and mysticism in post-World War II Louisiana. With the townsfolk in a panic about the loup-garou on the loose, Raymond is determined to restore order. Although his neighbors believe the woman is a mythical were-creature, Raymond suspects she was set up.

Tormented by the atrocities of war, Raymond feels a strange connection to Adele. After the death of her twin boys and the suicide of her sister, she lost everything, including her sense of reality. Haunted by guilt and wartime flashbacks, Raymond knows his only salvation is to prove Adele’s innocence and possibly give her a chance to rebuild her life.  

When a child goes missing and Adele breaks loose, the town spirals into a frenzy. And Raymond is forced to seek out the killer before it’s too late. With some help from a mystical healer and the town mistress, Raymond pieces together the clues and discovers something far more sinister than a loup-garou is at work.

Will Raymond prove Adele’s innocence before the townsfolk burn her alive?  What twisted secrets lie behind the walls of the Bastion plantation home? You’ll have to read to find out!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of Haines’ cozy Bones mystery series, but I love it when she takes a spin on the dark side! Just like James Lee Burke and Joe Lansdale, she has a real talent for creating a deliciously atmospheric Southern mystery filled with complex characters.  

Whether her books are dark and spooky or cozy and warm, Haines knocks it out of the ballpark every time.  Keep ‘em coming Carolyn!

Want to know about this talented author? Well then check out her Q&A.