Cozy up for a Spring Read

One of my dad’s favorite jokes was - A fellow says to his buddy, "Ah, spring,
spring in the air!" His pessimistic friend replies “Can’t, my feet hurt.”

Ok, I know, it’s bad!

But Spring is finally on the way! After a long, long, loonggg winter, finally
the weather is warming, the sun is shining (usually!) and my rose garden
beckons me. But I still find lots of time to get some cozy reading in, and have
a collection of good ones for you this month! (But then, aren’t they all
usually good?)

One of my favorite authors, Laura Childs, has the latest in her Tea Shop Mystery series, THE TEABERRY STRANGLER, out this month, and it is just terrific!

Theodosia Browning and her crew at the Indigo Tea Shop have just wound up a
successful Alley Crawl, an fun event where all the shop owners throw open their
back doors along the cobble-stoned alleys for customers and Theodosia is
thrilled at the turnout, especially since the event was her idea.

On her way to celebrate the end of the night with her friend Daria, owner of
the Antiquarian Map Shop, Theo is shocked to find her dear friend in a struggle
for her life in the alleyway. But the time Theo reaches Daria, the woman is
dead, having been strangled to death and the culprit dashes away before Theo
can get a good look at him.

Her friend’s death comes as a great shock to Theo, but she is further alarmed
when Detective Tidwell informs her that she might have actually been the target
of the killer, since both woman looked very similar. Theodosia dives into the
murder investigation, using her canny powers of reasoning and deduction to
figure out who the real killer is, but will Theo finger the murderer before her
own life is targeted?

With her characters who are familiar and endearing as beloved family members,
Laura Childs always brings her readers thrilling excitement in her Tea Shop
Mysteries, as well as a whole new batch of delicious recipes.

Karen E. Olson’s series, the Tattoo Shop Mysteries, gives readers an inside look into the world of tattooing and the fast-paced world of Las Vegas. Olson’s latest book, PRETTY IN INK finds Brett Kavanaugh and the staff of her tattoo shop, The Painted Lady, knee-deep in mayhem, murder, and dramatic drag queens. It’s up to Brett to figure out why everyone wants the Queen of Heart pin that seems to be the major clue in the murder of one of the drag queens. Can she “pin” the murder on the right culprit? Once again, Karen E. Olson has created a thrilling, suspense-filled story that literally keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can to keep up with the action. PRETTY IN INK is a great follow-up to THE MISSING INK, but also stands on its own as a superb mystery. Even if you aren’t a fan of inked body art, this tale will satisfy any fan of intrigue and intricate mystery plots. A new interesting theme for a cozy mystery can be found in Diana Orgain’s Maternal Instinct Mystery series. Her new book, MOTHERHOOD IS MURDER, the second in the series, follows first time mom Kate Connolly as she tries to find out who murdered the founder of the “Roo and Me” mommy club during a dinner cruise.

With a little help from her mentor, private investigator Albert
Galigani, Kate is busy piecing clues together, taking care of her precious
baby, and keeping her hubby Jim happy. Who says mothers can’t juggle!

The Maternal Instinct mysteries are a cute series, a little hare-brained, but
features clever writing and endearing characters.

Paranormal mystery author Victoria Laurie not only writes the Ghost Hunter Mystery series and the Abby Cook, Psychic Eye series, she is also a professional physic herself. So she has “on the job” experience in writing her characters. In her fourth book in the Ghost Hunter Mystery series, GHOULS GONE WILD, psychic M.J. Holliday and her crew are in Scotland to film their new television show, “Ghoul Getters.” When they stir up a family of centuries old witch ghosts with bad attitudes, M.J. and her friends must figure out of the curse they placed on tiny village is true or not, before any more villagers fall victim to the wrath of the witches. This is lively, fun series that is fast-paced and thrilling, with clever titles such as GHOULS GONE WILD, DEMONS ARE A GHOUL’S BEST FRIEND, and WHAT’S A GHOUL TO DO? Look for the next book, GHOULS, GHOULS, GHOULS to come out in January, 2011. Home Renovation is a popular subject these days with Extreme Home Makeover and the HGTV network, and Jennie Bentley’s clever Do-It-Yourself Mystery series takes advantage of the popularity with tales about a charming home renovator Avery Baker and her penchant for stumbling into murder and mayhem. The latest book in the series, PLASTER AND POISON, finds Avery and her boyfriend Derek renovating a carriage house for their friends Kate and Wayne. They are trying to get everything done before their wedding, when they come upon a mysterious body among the paint cans. While tracking clues and hanging wallpaper, Avery discovers evidence that could throw the wedding and the renovations off schedule for good. Bentley has crafted a charming cast of characters with this series and includes some dandy home decorating tips as well. Check out the other books featuring Avery, SPACKLED AND SPOOKED and FATAL FIXER- UPPER. Apples, cooking, and murder are the theme of Sheila Connolly’s Orchard Series, and her latest book, RED DELICIOUS DEATH find heroine Meg Corey knee-deep in mystery- solving when a group of new chefs come to the little town of Granford to open an organic restaurant.

When one of the chefs ends up dead in a pig wallow, it’s up to Meg to figure
out who killed the cook. When she unearthed some old town secrets, Meg
discovers the killer might be a homegrown culprit.

Connolly includes recipes featured in the story, which is a thrilling, suspense
filled romp through the orchard. Very tasty indeed.

Another "food: themed mystery can be found with Jenn McKinlay’s debut novel SPRINKLE WITH MURDER: A Cupcake Bakery Mystery. (yummm...cupcakes...opps, sorry!) Friends Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are the proud owners of Fairy Tale Cupcakes and their first big order is a doozy. They are to make a cupcake wedding cake for a bride from... well, a bridezilla who insists on all the cupcakes to be original.

When Melanie finds the bride-to-be dead with a cupcake in her hand, she becomes
the prime suspect in the murder. It’s up to the girls to clear Mel’s name and
find the real killer before their cupcake business falls flat as a pancake.

A cute mystery, but the absolute best part of the book is the fabulous recipes for cupcakes with names like Blonde Bombshells, Tinkerbelles, and Death By Chocolate that clenched my vote for newest favorite mystery series. I can’t wait for BUTTERCREAM BUMP OFF to come out next January, 2011.

So, there you have it. A new bundle of cozy goodness to enjoy and savor during
the coming spring days. Grab your favorite beverage, head out to the garden and
bask in the sun while enjoying one of these goodies this month! I guarantee
you’ll be glad you did!

Due to unforeseen circumstance, there will be no author interview this month.
But come back in April for a new collection of cozy mysteries to celebrate
April showers and flowers with! And I promise, no April Fool’s jokes!

Happy Act Happy Day (March 15), Happy St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), Happy
Birthday to my oldest son, Coleman (March 18) and Happy Make Up Your Own
Holiday Day (March 26)!

Until then, cozy reading, ya’ll!

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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.