Friday, October 10, 2014

Review/Book Giveaway/Guest Post: A Midwinter's Tail by Sofie Kelly




About the Book

Genre: Cozy Mystery, #6 in A Magical Cats Mystery Series
Publisher: Obsidian Mystery
Release Date: October 2014

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Kathleen Paulson is snowed under running her library and caring for her extraordinary felines, Owen and Hercules. But when a fund-raiser turns deadly, she’ll have to add sleuthing to her already full schedule....

Winter in Mayville Heights is busy and not just because of the holidays. Kathleen is hard at work organizing a benefit to raise money for the library’s popular Reading Buddies program. She has her hands full hosting the event. And when a guest at the gala drops dead, her magical cats, Owen and Hercules, will have their paws full helping her solve a murder.

The victim is the ex of town rascal Burtis Chapman, but she hasn’t lived in the area in years. And though everybody is denying knowledge of why she was back in town, as Kathleen and her detective boyfriend, Marcus, begin nosing around, they discover more people are connected to the deceased than claimed to be. Now Marcus, Kathleen, and her uncanny cats have to unravel this midwinter tale before the case gets cold.


My Review

My friends in Mayville Heights are back with another book in the “A Magical Cats Mystery” series. To say this is one of my favorite cozy series would be an understatement. I think this is one series that gets better with age. I was addicted to it from the start and just became more engrossed as the books continue.

It’s winter time in the small town and Kathleen Paulson is planning a huge fundraiser to raise money for the library’s Reading Buddies program. Things are going quite smoothly until the ex-wife of Burtis Chapman unexpectedly shows up after a long absence. Just as she mysteriously shows up, she mysteriously dies. Kathleen’s boyfriend, who happens to be the detective in charge, is quite suspicious and so is Kathleen. The investigation begins and they discover Chapman’s ex wasn’t a very popular or well liked woman.

With the help of her delightful magical cats Hercules and Owen, Kathleen has her work cut out for her as she tries to find a killer.

Not only do I adore the human characters, but Hercules and Owen stole my heart a long time ago. Magical or not, they still have very kitty-like attributes. This is an enchanting story and perfect for this time of year. Sofie Kelly is a brilliant storyteller and definitely on my “auto buy” list. I love each and every one of her books and this is no different. They always make me feel so good. There better be another book coming out soon, that’s all I can say!




FTC Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.



Author Guest Post

Maybe it’s because we spend a lot of time alone thinking about—and sometimes even talking to—people that don’t exist anywhere except in our heads, but writers have a few quirks the average person doesn’t have. So, you might be a writer if:

1. Somewhere on your desk you have a napkin with something scribbled on it that you can no longer read; a yellow crayon because your highlighter ran out of ink last Tuesday; a sticky note with the number of the inkjet cartridges your printer uses; and a cable that belongs to your printer, or your camera, or the computer you used in 2003.

2. You know 142 ways to kill someone without leaving a mark.

3. When someone tells you that they're writing a book, you ask what it's about and then critique the idea in your head.

4. You have very strong opinions about the use of the serial comma.

5. You have a special pen that you use only to secretly practice signing your name.

6. When you fall down the basement stairs and have to be taken to the hospital in the ambulance, you ask the paramedics for a pen so you can take notes on the experience.

7. You have rearranged a bookstore display of your books or those of your friends to make them more “visually appealing”.

8. You have been asked to leave a bookstore because the manager did not agree with your idea of “visually appealing.”

9. You have told an ATF agent that his job is sexy.

10. You have an outline for a story involving a lonely billionaire and an innocent young barista who needs money for her grandmother’s medical bills.

What would you add to the list?

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

How would you like to win a paperback copy of A Midwinter's Tail by Sofie Kelly? Thanks to Obsidian, I have one paperback to giveaway to one lucky winner.

Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the rafflecopter form below.

2) Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

3) US Residents Only

4) For one extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway.

5) For one extra entry: Leave a comment for the author.

6) For one extra entry:  Follow this blog...old followers, too!  Just let us know how you follow and under what name.

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited.

The giveaway begins on October 10th (midnight est) and ends on October 17th (midnight est).

The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. I will announce the winner here on my blog.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

32 comments:

  1. A cozy mystery and cats–always a wonderful read! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

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  2. It looks great, I hope to get a chance to read it :)

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  3. You rewrite the ending of the movie you are watching...in your head of course. Thanks for the giveaway! I love this series. kuzlin at aol.com

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  4. This is a great series! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  5. I love cats in my Cozies! Thanks for the great interview!

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  6. Really enjoyed Sofie's list of quirks. I think some of us regular joes, especially liberal arts majors. In fact, my brother and I have some opinions about the Oxford comma! Thanks for the chance to win, really looking forward to the new book!

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  7. I've not read any books by this author but would love to have the chance

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  8. Just love the title. Would enjoy the chance to read the book!

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  9. This is the second review I've read for this book, and I have got to try the series! Also, I love your "You might be a writer if..."

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  10. How about if you have a house full of kids, grandkids, or pets, then you could be an author? Ronna(at)msn(dot)com

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  11. You are reading a book and realize that your mind has taken you on a different storyline than what is written. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  12. Okay... There was SO much to love about his post. I like the story idea. Magical cats...Interesting.

    And as a writer, I'm sure Sofie is cringing about you punctuation. :)

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  13. I read most of this series and like them. I need to read this one to be updated.

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  14. This is a delightful post and wonderful series. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. I really enjoy this series, also. The "mysterious" cats are amusing, and the human characters are believable. Fun reads.

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  16. Thank you everyone for your kind words about the Magical Cats. My husband says I should add, "You might be a writer if you walk around the house talking to imaginary people," to the list.

    Good luck in the giveaway!

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  17. This is such a wonderful series, and I'm glad to hear that Kathleen, Owen, and Hercules are all in fine form. I absolutely love the "You might be a writer if..." list. Too funny, and I would add, that you might be a writer if you spend your time on the subway evaluating each passenger as a potential character and creating their backstories.

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  18. I love this series! This cover is gorgeous. Thank you for a great post and the chance to win.

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  19. LOVE this series!!! congrats to Sofie & continued success!!!

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  20. I love this series. Cant wait to continue it.

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  21. Cats, in a cozy mystery...as it should be!

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  22. Any Owen and Hercules book is a must read for me---I love those cats.

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  23. I love this series, can't wait to read this installment ! kathambre@yahoo.com

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  24. I love the idea of libraries have a reading buddy program.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  25. I hadn't heard of this series, but this book sounds really good and I'm looking forward to reading it. I love the cover. Thanks for having the giveaway.

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  26. Magical Cats is one of my favorite Paranormal Cozy series. I think I own all of them except this new release. I'd love to win a copy to add to my home library.

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  27. You might be a writer if you have a notebook (or tape recorder) by your bed so you can keep track of your dreams. Hey, there might be a book idea there!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  28. I have two cats and I'm thinking what fun it would be if they helped me!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  29. I love this series and hope there continue to be more and more books.
    Love (and agree with) the author's list.

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  30. Sofie: I'm a cat Mom who collected all except "Cat Trick". I'm going to dig in and enjoy what I have! Yvonne, if Canadian mail won't do, there is a USA mailbox I can give. Start counting me in physical books! Carolyn. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/loveyandthreesiblings/

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