Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: Murder Served Neat (A Cocktails and Catering Mystery) by Michelle Hillen Klump

 

Murder Served Neat (A Cocktails and Catering Mystery)
by Michelle Hillen Klump

About Murder Served Neat 

Murder Served Neat (A Cocktails and Catering Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Texas
Crooked Lane Books (February 21, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639102345
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639102341
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09ZRLRFB4

Reporter-turned-mixologist Samantha Warren has already thwarted one murder. Now, her world is shaken—definitely not stirred—once again as another killing throws her world into chaos.

Samantha is mixing up traditional cocktails at the German Texan Lodge’s Fourth of July festival—a gig she was roped into by her mother. But amidst the bratwurst and brass bands, trouble is brewing. Lodge loyalties are divided over a proposal to build a private, country-club-style tennis center on the lodge grounds. Her mom’s best friend Patty Davis is vehemently opposed to the plan. Society matron Angela Clawson is all for it. At the festival, they’re seen in a heated argument—and hours later, Angela is found dead, killed by one of the ceremonial shovels intended for the groundbreaking.

Samantha’s mother begs her to help clear her best friend’s name, but can she handle another murder case or will the whole investigation go bottoms up?

About Michelle Hillen Klump

Michelle Hillen Klump began her writing career as a newspaper reporter, traveling the back roads of central Texas and Arkansas, reporting on everything from natural disasters to crime and corruption. She’s interviewed former presidents, covered a midnight manhunt through the Ozark Mountains, and learned the finer points of how to break a car window from a looter while covering a hurricane. Now, she uses her experiences as fodder for fiction, writing a cozy mystery series about a former reporter turned craft cocktail caterer.

Michelle lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and young daughter. When she’s not writing or working her day job, she enjoys gardening, reading, exploring Houston’s neighborhoods, hiking and biking, and creating craft cocktails for friends and family.

Author Links

Webpage https://michelleklump.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichelleKlump/

Twitter https://twitter.com/mh_klump

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21600853.Michelle_Hillen_Klump

GoodReads Book Link https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60729835-murder-served-neat

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/michelle.h.klump/?hl=en

Purchase Links – Amazon –  Barnes & Noble – IndieBound – 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 20 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – SPOTLIGHT

February 20 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

February 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 23 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER INTERVIEW  

February 24 – The Book Decoder – AUTHOR INTERVIEW  

February 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 25 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 26 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

February 27 – I’m Into Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 28 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

March 1 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 4 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

March 5 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

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Celebrate Lit Presents: A Life Reclaimed Author: Olivia Rae

 

About the Book

Book: A Life Reclaimed

Author: Olivia Rae

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 28, 2022

Book: A Life Reclaimed

Author: Olivia Rae

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 28, 2022

A Scoundrel, A Spy, and A Secret. Will She Ever Learn the Truth?

Desperate to avoid a second loveless marriage, Anne Howell hides out in a cave on the Welsh coast. If she can get to England, she should be safe from her stepfather’s long reaching hand. She thinks her prayers are answered when she rescues a shipwrecked sailor, Thomas Armstrong, who agrees to help her, claiming he has ties to Queen Elizabeth I. Though she fears he may be an accomplished liar, she has no choice but to trust him, especially when a secret from her past puts spies on her trail and threatens to destroy her future.

Upon learning his true mother was executed in place of a dethroned queen, Thomas Armstrong sets out to find the cowardly monarch and avenge his mother’s death. Broke and in debt, he is finally on the verge of reaching his goal when his ship goes down in a storm and he ends up owing his life to the honest and forthright Anne Howell. He fears his quest is finished – until he learns there are those who would pay handsomely to have Anne in their possession, enough to clear his debt and enable him to pursue the revenge he seeks. But in helping Anne he has lost his heart, and now faces a devastating choice – remain loyal to his goal of avenging his mother or follow his feelings to an uncertain future with Anne.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Olivia Rae is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary inspirational romance. She spent her school days dreaming of knights, princesses and far away kingdoms; it made those long days in the classroom go by much faster. Nobody was more shocked than her when she decided to become a teacher. Besides getting her Master’s degree, marrying her own prince, and raising a couple of kids, Olivia decided to breathe a little more life into her childhood stories.

Olivia is the winner of the Book Buyers Best Award, Angel Award, New England Readers’ Choice Award, the Golden Quill Award, the American Fiction Award, and is a gold and bronze medalist in the Illumination Awards.

 

More from Olivia

I’ve always been drawn to English history and back in 2009, I was blessed to visit London with my daughter. We immersed ourselves in the area’s rich history by going to museums, visiting Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, Temple Church, and so much more. Of course, a tour of the city wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to the Tower of London. There I learned about the tragic and short life of Lady Jane Grey, who was the queen of England for nine days.

 

Later that day, I found a postcard that displayed the famous painting, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche. My mind started racing and the seeds for the Secrets of the Queens series took root. I wondered what would’ve happened if Lady Jane Grey had lived. A Life Reclaimed, the third book in the Secrets of the Queens, is not about Lady Jane Grey per se, but it follows the story of a young man whose life has been changed because of her escape from death.

 

I hope you enjoy my tale of mystery, intrigue, and love as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, February 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 10

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 10

Worthy2Read, February 11

Texas Book-aholic, February 12

deb’s Book Review, February 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 15

For Him and My Family, February 15

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 16

Betti Mace, February 17

Cover Lover Book Review, February 17

Connie’s History Classroom, February 18

Holly’s Book Corner, February 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 19

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, February 20 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 20

Pause for Tales, February 21

Blogging With Carol, February 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away the grand prize of a themed gift box!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/242a3/a

The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

 

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

Amazon 

 

About The Author

Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher and freelance writer. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic Magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona.

My Review

A story that will tug at your heartstrings, a sweet young woman, that you want to help as she is being treated so horribly. Why? Well the answers do come with a few hints are dropped along the way that play into the answers.

I loved the treasurer seeking and the interaction with nature that young Brianna embraces. Along with most of the people at the estate that seem to see the love Brianna, along with newcomer Michael Wray.

We are given a glimpse into what life was like on the estate, along with a look at the Irish countryside, and the workings at the school! We are also gifted with some sweet romance, and some life lessons.

I will be looking for more by this author!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: Born to Bead Wild: A Humorous Cozy Mystery (Glass Bead Mystery Series) by Janice Peacock

 

Born to Bead Wild: A Humorous Cozy Mystery
(Glass Bead Mystery Series)
by Janice Peacock

About Born to Bead Wild

Born to Bead Wild: A Humorous Cozy Mystery (Glass Bead Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Vetrai Press (January 18, 2023)
Number of Pages: 252
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BDW3FV78

Something is strange at Full Moon Farms—and it isn’t just Val’s Eggplant Surprise for dinner.

 

Jax, Tessa, and the rest of the arts and crafts retreat attendees are shocked when they find charred bones in a glass kiln. Are the remains human or animal?

 

The camp owners insist the bones in the coffin-sized kiln are from a deer, but Jax finds a clue that leads her to believe the owners are lying. After Tessa’s least favorite person turns up dead, there is no doubt that a killer lurks somewhere in the deep forest of the Olympic Peninsula. As clues lead Jax and Tessa down mysterious paths, they hope they live long enough to find the culprit and make it out alive.

 

Excerpt:

Since breakfast was my favorite meal of the day, I looked forward to a hearty spread of
bacon, eggs, and pancakes as we headed to the lodge in the morning. As we reached the
top of the hill, we again spotted Val banging on the gong while wearing earmuffs. She
looked even less enthusiastic wielding the mallet than at last night’s dinner.
We walked along the lake’s edge and looked across the water. I spotted something
floating just off the edge of the dock in the middle of the lake.
“Do you see that thing floating in the water?” I asked.
“Looks like a log,” Tessa replied as she race-walked away.
“But doesn’t it kind of look like something round at one end—like a head?”
“Will you let that wild imagination of yours settle down for once? You’re making
me crazy,” Tessa said, not slowing down.
“I’m going to go look.” I headed for the dock and marched right out to the edge.
Whatever it was sank below the surface of the water. “It disappeared!”
“Maybe it was all a figment of your imagination,” Tessa said.
“You saw it, too,” I replied.
“Right, but I didn’t think it was a head.”
“There! Look right there,” I said, pointing at the dark water. “Some fizzy bubbles
below the surface.”
“Some bubbles. Who knows? Maybe it’s the Loch Ness Monster!”
“The Loch Ness Monster only lives in Loch Ness,” I said. “No, seriously, I saw
something.”
Wendy, who was welcoming students and staff at the door to the lodge, came
running toward us.
“What happened? Did you two see our resident jumbo trout?” she asked.
“This wasn’t a trout,” I said.
“I’m sure it’s just a log. Or ... I don’t know. I’ve lived in these parts for a long while,
and I’ve never seen anything to be worried about in this lake—or any other lake, for that
matter!” Wendy locked arms with us and guided us toward the lodge The gong rang again, this time faster and more insistent than the last. “There’s always a first time,” I said, looking over my shoulder. We filed into the dining room to find bubbling pots of oatmeal and dishes with raisins, honey, and milk waiting for us on a buffet table. While the oatmeal was okay, what helped every morning was coffee. Tessa and I poured ourselves mugs and settled at a long table with our bowls of oatmeal.

Val came out of the kitchen and slammed two jugs of orange juice on the counter.
Her grumpy countenance told me I shouldn’t ask where the bacon was because I might
get a cold glass of OJ straight to the face.
More disheveled and bleary-eyed than usual, Vance came in and sat down across
from us.
“What happened to you?” I asked while Tessa went in search of coffee for Vance.
“Ugh. I stayed up all night with Duke filling the furnace with glass. When we got
here, the glass level was low, and he had a fit that he wouldn’t be able to teach the class
with so little to work with,” Vance said, running his hands through his messy hair.
“Here, drink this,” Tessa said, handing him a cup of coffee.
“Thanks, Tessa. I’ll need about ten more before I am among the living,” Vance said
with a sleepy smile.
It was typical of Duke to cause a fuss about his studio, but not having enough glass
when you’re trying to teach would be nearly impossible. I wondered why Wendy hadn’t
ensured the glass levels were high enough. Kudos to Vance for helping Duke charge the
furnace so it would be ready for the first day of class.
Those of us who finished breakfast went with Wendy to her studio, which was
housed in the other half of the building where our classroom was. She wanted to unveil
some of the fused glass pieces she created. Wendy had traced her roots to the Lower Elwha
Klallam Tribe, and the project she had been working on was a tribute to the people who
have lived in this area for millennia. The artwork she was creating consisted of two glass
panels: One with forest imagery and one with re-creations of artifacts she made. Tessa
told me that this was an exciting project for Wendy, who would be installing her large
glass panels at the Carnegie Museum in Port Angeles, which featured cultural and
historical artifacts from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. She was proud to have been
selected as the artist whose work would be displayed at the museum and was concerned
about making something worthy of being installed in such an important place.
“Okay, everyone. Gather ’round. I want to show you what’s been cookin’ in this kiln
for a week.” To open the coffin-size kiln’s lid, Wendy grabbed a handle attached to a cable,
which was part of a counterweight system, and pulled.The large kiln lid rose smoothly and quickly, revealing a thick colorful glass panel
about the size and shape of a king pillow. There was a collective gasp. The piece was
breathtaking. Blue, orange, and green glass glimmered in the early morning light as it
rested on a background of pure white kiln bricks.
“Success! It looks like the panel made it through its fusing phase. It’s still warm in
the kiln, so I’ll put this lid back down.” Using the pulley system, Wendy gently closed the
lid on the kiln and pressed the OFF button on the kiln’s controller. “Now, in this other
kiln are the artifacts I’ve been working on. It’s been a challenge getting the non-glass
pieces to work together with the fused glass slab.”
Wendy approached the second kiln and grabbed its pulley, raising the large lid to
reveal its contents.
There was another collective gasp. This one was much louder than the last.
Inside, lying in a puddle of cracked and melted glass, was a pile of bone shards,
chalky white and crumbling. Wendy let go of the pulley handle, and the lid slammed shut
with a bang that echoed through the room.
A rumble of concern passed through the crowd. Tessa and I looked at each other
in a panic. Were those really bones? We couldn’t be sure if they were human or animal,
but one thing I knew for sure—they made my skin crawl

 

About Janice Peacock

Janice Peacock is a cozy mystery author who specializes in craft and hobby mysteries. She loves to write about artists who find new ways to live their lives and perhaps catch a criminal or two in the process. While working in a glass studio with several colorful and quirky artists, she was inspired to write the Glass Bead Mystery Series. The Ruby Shaw Mysteries, which are set in a small hillside mining town, were inspired by her trips to Jerome, Arizona, and Jacksonville, Oregon.

When Janice isn’t writing about amateur detectives, she wields a 2,500-degree torch to melt glass and create one-of-kind beads and jewelry. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, an enormous white dog, and an undisclosed number of cats. Visit Janice online at www.janicepeacock.com.

Author Links

• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/janpeac/
• Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/janpeac/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JanPeac
• GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8389583.Janice_Peacock

Purchase Link – Amazon 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

February 16 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

February 17 – Carla Loves to Read – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 17 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

February 18 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

February 18 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 19 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 19 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT*

February 20 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 20 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 21 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 22 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 23 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

February 23 – Lady Hawkeye – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

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