Cozy Sweets for February...

It’s February, and love is in the air, along with a lot of snow and sleet! But
for cozy mystery writers, intrigue and murder are always swirling about! This
month finds a huge selection of my favorite genre in the offering, and each one
looks more fascinating than the next.

It never fails to amaze me how so many talented writers can continue to come up
with new situations and angles that keep their fans clammering for more! But
they do, and I think you’ll find there is a little something for everyone in
this month’s collection!

If you have a favorite cozy mystery author that I have missed, please feel free
to let me know! Just add a comment at the end of this page, and I’ll do my best
to track her (or him) down!

So, Happy Valentine’s Day, Happy Presidents Day, Happy Madri Gras, and Happy
Hoodie-Hoo Day! (* February 20th – see below!) And most of all, Happy Reading!

The Chocolate Cupid Killings: A Chocoholic Mystery
By Joanna Carl
Obsidian: $21.95 Although this was released in October, I have saved THE CHOCOLATE CUPID KILLINGS for this month, well, because it is set during Valentine’s Day! The ninth installment in Joanna Carl’s Chocoholic Mysteries series finds the ladies at TenHuis Chocolade up to their necks in chocolate hearts for Valentine's Day. But Lee McKinney Woodyard isn’t feeling the love when a creepy detective starts snooping around her family and business.

Private detective Derrick Valentine is looking for their one of their employees
- a woman Lee and her Aunt Nettie have been harboring for an underground
railroad-type organization that aids abused women. But when Valentine ends up
dead, and Aunt Nettie becomes a prime suspect, Lee has to put her sleuthing
skills to good use to find a happy ending for this Valentine tale.

As usual, author Joanna Carl brings a yummy chocolate-covered mystery to her fans, and she adds to the lusciousness with tasty tidbits of chocolate history and trivia throughout the story, making this a delicious mystery to enjoy for the holiday!

And if you like “foodie” mysteries, check out these additional titles:

BUTTER SAFE THAN SORRY: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery by Tamar Myers (Obsidian: $14) Myer’s 17th book in this series features Mennonites, bank robberies and lots of delicious buttery recipes. TOWN IN A BLUEBERRY JAM: A Candy Holliday Mystery by B.B. Haywood (Berkley Prime Crime: $6.99) The first in a new series, find a blueberry farmer trying to solve the death of her hometown’s Blueberry Queen. Great blueberry recipes included. THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING: A Della Cooks Mystery by Melinda Wells (Berkley Prime Crime; $7.99) Cooking school owner and tv star Della Carmichael tries to find out who killed the food columnist in the third installment of this series. Wonderful recipes included. CAT PLAYING CUPID: A Joe Grey Mystery
By Shirley Rousseau Murphy
Avon Mystery; $7.99 In keeping with the Valentine theme, romance, mystery, and a crime solving cat are the focus of CAT PLAYING CUPID: A Joe Grey Mystery by Shirley Rousseau Murphy.

Joe Grey, the crime solving kitty, and his feline pals are up to their Meow Mix
in murders while Joe’s human Clyde is away on his honeymoon. One involved a ten-
year old cold case and a jilted bride, and the other is centered on a cat lover
with a special book that spills the cat’s secret ability to speak. Joe concludes
the crimes are related, but will he and his cat crew be able to solve them in
time to save Valentine’s Day?

CAT PLAYING CUPID is the fourteenth book in Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s cat-influenced mysteries, and each one is as clever and exciting as the last. It’s no wonder that Murphy has been awarded the highest honors by the Cat-writers of America for her work.

Three of my personal favorite hobbies – books, flowers and crocheting - are
featured in new cozies this month.

IF BOOKS COULD KILL: A Bibliophile Mystery
By Kate Carlisle
Obsidian Mystery; $6.99

Book restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright is happy to be attending the world-
renowned Edinburgh Book Fair. But then her ex-boyfriend shows up with a
bombshell. He has an original copy of a scandalous text that could change
history, and humiliate the British monarchy.

When the boyfriend turns up dead, Brooklyn becomes the prime suspect and must
try to find the true culprit in order to clear her name.

IF BOOKS COULD KILL is the second book in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle, and is just as fresh and sassy as the first, HOMICIDE IN HARDCOVER. Brooklyn Wainwright is sexy and smart, and just a delight to get to know through her adventures and escapades. SLEEPING WITH ANEMONE: A Flower Shop Mystery
By Kate Collins
Obsidian Mystery; $6.99

Feisty florist Abby Night, owner of Bloomer’s, is upset that a big corporate
giant is going to open a diary farm on the outskirts of town. But when she
passes around a petition at her booth at the home and garden show, it doesn’t
please organizers at all. But it seems like someone else might have it out for
Abby as well. She narrowly escapes being kidnapped several times, but things
really start turning rough when a dead body is found.

As Abby tries to find out who is causing all the trouble in town, she juggles
work, family and her relationship with her boyfriend Marco. All in a day’s work
for a busy gal!

Kate Collins once again delights her readers with Abby’s adventures in SLEEPING WITH ANEMONE, the 9th book in the Flower Shop Mystery series. Her characters are lively, and the action is fast and furious, with just a touch of romance to keep things hot. A STITCH IN CRIME: A Crochet Mystery
By Betty Hechtman Berkley Prime Crime; $7.99
I love to crochet, and was so excited to find Betty Hechtman’s Crochet Mystery series. A STITCH IN CRIME is the fourth book in this series, and is just delightful as the first three.

The main character, Molly Pink, has been put in charge this year's creative
retreat-an exhilarating weekend out on the Monterey Peninsula, complete with
crochet classes. Unfortunately for one teacher, though, the breathtaking scenery
is where she'll take her last breath. Now Molly will have to find a new
instructor, and, if she can squeeze it in, solve this murder-with the help of
her pals from the Tarzana Hookers.

I just love the cast of characters in Hechtman’s books. The Tarzana Hookers,
including Adele, CeeCee, Shelia and Dinah, are a fun-loving, adventurous group
of friends that anyone would love to get to know. And Molly’s romantic dilemma
of trying to choose between Detective Barry Greenberg and handsome lawyer Mason
Fields just adds a little spice to the mystery.

There is also an adorable crocheted purse pattern as well as a couple of
delicious dessert recipes are included in this enjoyable mystery. You’ll find
yourself looking for a ball of yarn and a crochet hook before the end of the book!

And rounding out this month’s batch of mysteries includes a domestic diva, a
party planner and an angelic lawyer.

AVENGING ANGELS: A Beaufort and Company Mystery
By Mary Stanton
Berkley Prime Crime; $7.99

Representing the deceased in the afterlife’s Celestial Court is Bree Winston-
Beaufort’s speciality, but a new client’s suspicious suicide has Bree and her
team of angels investigating just who was behind his death. A cute combination
of paranormal and legal mystery.

HOW TO HOST A KILLER PARTY: A Party Planner Mystery
By Penny Warner
Obsidian Mystery; $6.99

Presley Parker’s party planner’s business takes a nose-dive after her new
clients turn up dead and she is the prime suspect in their murders. With help
from her crime-scene cleaner boyfriend, she is determined to clear her name and
solve the murders. Sassy and clever, and full of party planning tips.

THE DIVA PAINTS THE TOWN: A Domestic Diva Mystery
By Krista Davis
Berkley Prime Crime; $6.99

When Sophie Winston's reclusive neighbor dies, his final wish is for the
Domestic Diva to throw a dinner party in his honor, and he's planned everything
down to the letter. But what no one planned for is the corpse of a student that
Sophie finds in his house. This is a mystery full of intrigue, humor and great
housekeeping tips and recipes.

So there you go! That should keep you cozy enthusiasts occupied, at least for a few wintry days! Come back by on the 15th for a special mystery author interview with one of my favorite authors, JoAnne Fluke, author of the “Hannah Swenson Mystery” series. Until then, cozy reading, ya’ll! * This wacky day of abject zaniness requires that people drop what they're doing, head out onto the street, and yell "Hoodie Hoo!" at high noon. Apparently, this random noise is supposed to scare winter away and prepare for spring, which is exactly one month away. (http://www.zanyholidays.com/)

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Sharon Chance has been a freelance entertainment journalist for the past fourteen years. As a regular contributor to the Wichita Falls Times Record News, she has written well over 1,600 articles covering everything from concert and movie reviews to museum openings to interviewing some of the top musicians performing today, including members of Bon Jovi and Guns and Roses.

But her true love lies in the world of books. A voracious reader from a young
age, Sharon began reviewing books at the urging of her sister-in-law, who was a
big fan of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club. What began as a simple fun attempt at
sharing her views of books she enjoyed has developed into a work of passion for
Sharon. In addition to being a senior book reviewer for the Times Record News,
Sharon is also a regular guest contributor for the Las Vegas Review Journal’s
Book Nook, as well as having written for several other publications.

A distant relative of the great Edgar Allan Poe, Sharon has a fondness for
mysteries, especially those of the cozy kind. In her new column, Sharon’s Cozy
Corner, Sharon hopes to bring news of the latest in the cozy mystery genre, as
well as insightful interviews with the authors who write them.