Atlanta cleaning lady/private detective Callahan Garrity, the protagonist of the author's eight critically acclaimed mysteries, returns from a long hiatus in this short story to track down the source of a killer fruitcake--and in the process discovers that some forms of Christmas spirit really can be lethal.
Also included with this short story is Mary Kay Andrews' personal recipe for a not-so-fatal fruitcake.
My Review: I confess...I like fruitcake and I really think it gets a bad rap. This is a very enjoyable short story with a fun resolution that shows no good deed goes unpunished. I loved how Garrity handled the situation and this story makes me curious about her other mysteries...she seems like a really fun character.
There will be a different book given away at each of the stops. At the bottom of this post are all the sites participating in the book hop. Make sure to visit (and follow) everyone and enter their giveaways! :-)
So, on to my part in the hop!
Looking for a wickedly decadent historical romance? I'm giving away a trade paperback of The Edge of Impropriety by Pam Rosenthal. The prize package will also include some pepperminty/chocolatey deliciousness as well! Simply leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you...and if you choose to follow my blog I'll enter you in my giveaway twice. Good luck and have fun!!!
The goal for this read-a-thon is to have fun and catch up on some of our magical, wintry, or holiday themed reads! For more information or to sign up visit A Daydreamer's Thoughts!
I've never taken part in a read-a-thon but the crazy week I've had at work (even though it's supposed to be our slow period) has made me just want to curl up with some Christmas novellas I've been saving for these last days leading up to Christmas. My companions on this journey will be Tara (of course) and my new obsession...Starbucks white chocolate peppermint mochas. (Luckily they're buy one get one free this weekend!)
Blurb: Times are hard in the small Smoky Mountain town of Hansonville, North Carolina, and for former forest service employee Raine Stockton this Christmas will be harder than most as she prepares to spend her first holiday without her family, without a job… and without a dog. When a mysterious Secret Santa starts making dreams come true all over the county everyone’s spirits are on the rise, but Raine can’t help but wonder whether there is more to this enigmatic philanthropist than meets the eye. Meanwhile, the police are baffled by a string of crimes that are unlike anything the small town has ever seen before. It will take a mischievous golden retriever pup to find the clues that solve both mysteries… and to heal Raine’s broken heart.
My Review: While I'm 100% a cat person, Donna Ball's Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries have an extra special place in my heart. So stumbling upon this sweet story detailing how Raine came to own her canine crew was like an early Christmas gift. For anyone who hasn't read this series, this short story is the perfect place to start; or for anyone like me who can't get enough Raine it's a joy to see how it all began for her and Cisco. I can't wait for my next full length adventure with them.
Cass Wilkes, owner of the Gingerbread Haus bakery, was looking forward to her daughter Danielle's wedding—until Dani announced that she wants her father, Cass's ex, to walk her down the aisle. Seriously? Even worse, it appears that he, his trophy wife and their yappy little dog will be staying with Cass….
Her friend Charlene Albach arrives at their weekly chick-flick night in shock. She's just seen the ghost of Christmas past: her ex-husband, Richard, who left a year ago when he ran off with the hostess from her restaurant, Zelda's. Now the hostess is history and he wants to kiss and make up. Hide the mistletoe!
And bring out the hot buttered rum, because the holidays aren't easy for Ella O'Brien, either. Ella, newly divorced, is still sharing the house with her ex while they wait for the place to sell. The love is gone. Isn't it?
But watch as Christmas brings all kinds of surprises….
Merry Ex-mas, ladies!
My Review: I'm not a huge reader of contemporary romance, but with that darling cover of little gingerbread men and a town named Icicle Falls with shops such as the Gingerbread Haus bakery, I jumped at the chance to read and review this book. At first I assumed it was going to be the story of three women and their exes finding their way back to each other over the holidays, but it was so much more than that. Each divorced couple had a very unique story, one where the ex husband is already remarried and back in town for his daughter's wedding, to the pair living together until their house is sold who can't stop falling into bed with each other, and finally the return of a cheating ex who is hiding a secret while trying to worm his way back into his ex wife's life. The story is told in alternating chapters surrounding Cass, Ella and Charlene's
lives, and the transition is seamless; there is no confusion as each ladies' story stands on it's own while at the same time small-town life is perfectly depicted with a close knit group of women who are always there for each other. Highly recommended for lovers of contemporary romance with a Christmas twist.
I received a copy of this book from the author with the request for a review.
For fourteen-year-old Eve Hallows, life can be summed up in one word—horrible. She has the most horrible friends. She lives in a horrible old castle. Even her family is a bunch of horrible monsters.
However, in the monster-inhabited world of Gravesville—a world where messages are sent through Ouija boards, jack-o’-lanterns get facials to suit their moods, and the worst thing Eve has to deal with are those annoying zombie tourists who overrun her favorite graveyard during the Halloween season—horrible means wonderful. And everything for Eve is perfectly horrible.
But her life is about to go head over heels when a mysterious group known as The Source starts terrorizing Gravesville. Now she must move to the human world—where everything is opposite ... and for Eve, that's absolutely adorable!
Praise for Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks:
"Move over, Neil Gaiman’s CORALINE and THE GRAVEYARD BOOK … make room, Lemony Snicket’s A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS … you’ve got company and competition for shelf space!" -- THE HORROR FICTION REVIEW
"WOW! What an absolutely horrible book (horrible meaning fantastic!) ... This book was laugh out loud funny. I loved when Mom accidentally turned people to stone. Dad's crazy attempts at running a pizza store were just hysterical." -- KIDS 'N' BOOKS
"This is the perfect book to be read aloud, read at night under the covers or simply devoured in one sitting. Robert Gray’s Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks simply shines with all of its fun creepiness, compelling characters and stellar writing. A MUST read for any MG fan!" -- WORD SPELUNKING
"Eve Hallows is highly imaginative without being too complex for its target audience. Fall in love with Eve, her friends and her family of adorable monsters. Lose yourself in a light read that will remind you of those days when your English teacher just want you to read something, anything. This book is it. The one that you wish you read when you were in grade school." -- JOYOUS READS
"Overall, this book was fantastic. It presents an admirable role model as well as a strong family unit which will benefit young readers. When so many books right now have presented teens in a not-so-flattering light, it is so wonderful to find a book like this one." -- BOOK COVER JUSTICE
Ever since encountering The Source and its minions on Halloween, Eve Hallows has found life surprisingly quiet … not to mention adorably boring! So when Dad receives a Ouija message that she must return to Gravesville, Eve couldn't be happier—at least until she discovers the Director of URNS, also known as the Grim Reaper, has a special job for Eve … one that will lead her to New York City and to the true identity of The Source.
With The Book of Shrieks offering zero help and a new URNS agent driving the school boys—and Eve!—crazy, Eve's beginning to realize this whole saving-the-world nonsense isn't what it's cracked up to be.
All this and she still has to find The Book of Shadows....
Praise for Eve Hallows and the Book of Shadows:
"This book was perfectly horrible! Horrible meaning amazingly awesome, of course. Eve's world once again sucked me in and would not let go until this part of Eve's story was finished" -- LILI LOST IN A BOOK
"This is a perfect combination of YA, Horror, Paranormal and Fun!" -- BOOK LOVERS PARADISE
Robert Gray is a writer. If that job description doesn't impress you, how about fantasy writer? Too general? Well, he doesn't get insulted if you call him a horror writer. If horror's not your thing, then scratch out horror and replace it with suspense. And for the kiddies, you can slap on a YA or MG in front of that title.
Gray lives in Bushkill, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Robert and leave the others blank.
Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
There will be a
different book given away at each of the stops. At the bottom of this post are
all the sites participating in the book hop. Make sure to visit (and follow)
everyone and enter their giveaways :)
So, on to my part in
the hop!
I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Simply leave a
comment with your email address so I can contact you...and if you choose to
follow my blog I'll enter you in my giveaway twice. Good luck and have
fun!!!
