Sunday, July 15, 2012

Sunday Salon - It's Hot Out There!



If you'd like to participate with The Sunday Salon, just click the button above.

Summer is definitely here in New York! It feels like every other day is a heatwave! The perfect time for me to be in an air conditioned room reading :)

We just returned from vacation in Atlantic City...we love walking the boardwalk, nice weather, shopping and even a little gambling (not much, though). I did get some reading in - Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams, which I absolutely loved. Not only do I love cozies, but I'm specifically becoming a fan of culinary cozies and I don't even cook or bake myself :)

We even listened to an audio book on the way - the newest Sookie Stackhouse book. It's good and I have one more disc to go. I'll finish it when I go back to work on Monday.

Right now, I'm reading Firefly Beach by Meira Pentermann. I'm almost finished and I have to say - this book is amazing! I wasn't sure when I'd get around to it, but I've been reading and loving it for the past few days. I'll have a review soon.

I have quite a few blog tours coming up...my schedule is on the sidebar.

Do any of you belong to Catster? If you do, please befriend my fur babies...


#1 cat sitecats & bipeds!
#1 cat sitecats & bipeds!
#1 cat sitecats & bipeds!
#1 cat sitecats & bipeds!

We need Catster friends!

So, how was your week? I hope everyone has a great upcoming reading week!

funny cat pictures - Lolcats: Fluffy wants to knw
see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams (Book Giveaway and Review!)



Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
Paperback

Publisher:
Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Release Date:
July 1012






After catching her husband cheating on her, Ella Mae LeFaye leaves New York and heads to her hometown of Havenwood, Georgia.  She intends to start over in a place that’s familiar to her, surrounded by her beloved aunts and her mother.  Ella Mae’s dream is to bake pies in her own pie shop. 

With financial help from her family, Ella Mae opens “The Charmed Pie Shoppe” and it’s an immediate success.  She is stunned when she realizes she has her own special talent when it comes to baking pies.  Somehow she manages to pour her own feelings into each pie, which effects each person who eats one. 

When her old childhood foe, Loralyn Gaynor, wants to buy the same shop as Ella Mae, their old rivalry heats up and Loralyn’s fiancĂ© ends up murdered.  Ella Mae is more than a little shocked to discover that the murder weapon is her own rolling pin.  She has a tough time convincing the police she has no motive to kill someone she didn’t even know.

However, all evidence points in Ella Mae’s direction and it’s up to her to figure out who really committed this crime.  With the help of her Jack Russell terrier, Charleston Chew “Chewy”, Ella Mae sets out to find a killer.  Along the way, she finds herself facing some possible romantic entanglements from her soon-to-be ex-husband to an old childhood classmate to the son of the victim.   Mix this all together and you get a yummy cozy pie!

Ellery Adams gets off to an amazing start with this series.  I loved it right from the start.  She gives us a crazy, fun, and wacky secondary cast that will have readers smiling and giggling.  This cat lover even adored the Jack Russell terrier.  What a cutie!  This is what cozy mysteries are all about and what keeps me coming back to read them.  The best thing I can say is that I absolutely could not put this book down.  I was sad when I finished this book and I actually miss the characters.  They’ve already become my friends. I’ll definitely be looking for the second book in the “A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery” series.

Lately, I’ve been so lucky in the cozies I’ve been reading.  They’ve all been so good and have given me the lift I’ve needed these past few weeks.  To the cozy authors out there:  Keep ‘em coming!








FTC Disclosure: Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.




BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

Now, for a book giveaway.  Would you like to win a paperback copy of this book for your own?  Thanks to Kayleigh at Berkley, I have one copy to offer.  

To enter leave a valid email address in the comment section and follow these simple rules:

1) The contest runs from midnight (est), July 14th to midnight (est) on July 21st.

2) Entrants must leave a valid email address to enter the giveaway.

3) US Residents only.

4) For an extra entry - follow this blog either through GFC or subscribe through email. Yes, longtime followers count, just tell me how you follow.

5) For an extra entry - Leave a comment telling us what your favorite pie is.

6) For an extra 2 entries blog about this contest on your blog.

7) For an extra 2 entries, check out the post for this book at my Socrates' Cozy Cafe blog and comment on it.

8) For an extra 2 entries, follow my other blog Socrates' Cozy Cafe and let me know how you follow it. Yes, longtime followers count, just tell me how you follow.

I will notify the winner once one is chosen by List Randomizer. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their book or a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck everyone!









For reading challenges:

2012 Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge
2012 A to Z Reading Challenge
Where are you reading challenge? (Georgia)
Cruisin’ Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge

Beef Stolen-Off by Liz Lipperman Winner


The winner of this giveaway is....

Lisa H.

Congratulations, Lisa! An email has been sent!


Thanks to all who participated!

Friday, July 6, 2012

The Friday 56



This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join on the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

It's that simple.

This week I'm reading...


This is from page 56 of the ebook...

"No, no," says the concierge, as if directing school children. "You must not enter through the kitchen."

"We were lost," I say. "We took a water bus."

"We had a taxi waiting for you at the docks hours ago. The excursion would have cost you nothing."

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Follow Friday Four Fill In Fun Blog Hop - Week 70



This is a fun meme and it's hosted by Hilary at Feeling Beachie. Check out her lovely blog, if you'd like to participate.

This week’s statements

1. I love to wear t-shirts and shorts in the summer.

2. I have had a lot of review requests.

3. Public speaking makes me nervous, scared and sick.

4. My car always has an audio book because I like to multi-task.

funny cat pictures - ai playz  hidez 'n sneekz
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