Cyanide and Sensibility ~ Review

Cyanide and Sensibility
The Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery #3
By Katie Oliver

It's the grand opening of Phaedra Brighton's sister's new patisserie, Tout de Sweet. Everything is going along perfectly until someone sets off the fire alarm. Some added excitement to be sure, but nothing too awful. At least, not until that poor girl took the smallest taste of one of Hannah's to-die-for dark chocolate cupcakes, and, well, to-die-for actually happened. This will be a most unforgettable grand opening and one that could dash all of Hannah's dreams when her patisserie is closed and marked as a crime scene.

Well, Phaedra isn't about to stay on the sidelines and do nothing. No, it is not to be borne! With the help of her close friends in the Jane Austen Tea Society, she's going to solve this case. Was Anna Steele the intended target, or
was it instead her boss Rachel Brandon? Or had someone close to Phaedra been the intended victim? 

Cyanide and Sensibility is the third book in The Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery series, and the book can easily be read as a standalone title, if you haven't read the first two books. Phaedra is often referred to as Professor as that is what she is specifically a professor of English literature and a noted Jane Austen scholar, who often dressed the part to bring a special touch to her lectures. Phaedra has a talent for getting herself mixed up in murder mysteries and, as such, has to get involved in trying to solve the case herself. Not that local Detective Morelli appreciates her efforts. On the contrary, he discourages Phaedra's sleuthing endeavors.

This is an easy read with a contemporary setting. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries or love anything that references Jan Austen, you'll want to make this your next read. And with the story taking place during the Christmas season, it will be perfect to read now. The story is engaging, and the characters are personable (my personal favorite is Detective Morelli). I would recommend this title without reservation.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                     

QUICK FACTS
⦁ Title: Cyanide and Sensibility
⦁ Series: The Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery (Book 3)
⦁ Author: Katie Oliver
⦁ Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Austenesque Fiction
⦁ Publisher: Berkley (December 12, 2023)
⦁ Length: (320) pages
⦁ Format: Mass Market Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook 
⦁ ISBN: 978-0593337653‎
⦁ Tour Dates: December 4 – 18, 2023

About the Book:
Murder is on the menu and Phaedra Brighton is called on to serve up justice in the latest Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery.

While Phaedra Brighton might not have a Mr. Darcy (yet), she's quite content with her loving family and loyal cat. Phaedra's sister Hannah is the Jane to her Elizabeth, and Phaedra is ecstatic that Hannah has decided to move home for her next adventure—opening a business. 

All of Laurel Springs is out in full force to celebrate the grand unveiling of Hannah's new patisserie, Tout de Sweet, including local celebrity Rachel Brandon. Hannah is a master of her craft, with confections so divine, one bite will make you think you've died and gone to heaven.

Of course, you never want that to happen literally. 

When one of Hannah's famous dark chocolate cupcakes sends Rachel's assistant to the hospital with poisoning, Hannah begs for Phaedra's help to save her reputation and budding business. But Phaedra has more questions than answers: Who was the cupcake actually meant for? And how far is the culprit willing to go to take their target off the menu—permanently?

PRAISE FOR CYANIDE AND SENSIBILITY
⦁ “This is the first book I have read in the Jane Austen Tea Society series, but it won’t be my last…If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then this is a book you will enjoy.”— Book Looks by Lisa
⦁ “The book is filled with great characters and a fun, twisty plot. Highly recommend.”— Cara Putnam, author of Come What May   5 STARS— Gwendalyn’s Books

PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

AUTHOR BIO
Katie Oliver is known internationally as a writer of Jane Austen rom-coms with a hint of mystery. In the US and the UK, she is the bestselling author of the Dating Mr. Darcy and Marrying Mr. Darcy series.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X (FORMERLY TWITTER) | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

Clutter Free ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Clutter Free by Jackie Layton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Clutter Free

An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery #1
By Jackie Layton

This is the first book in a new series. A cozy Mystery series - the kind that is the perfect before-bed read that won't keep you up all night with over-the-top violence or craziness.

Kate Sloan is returning home for a fresh start as well as a second chance to connect to her roots. She's starting a new business with her lifelong BFF, and everything seems to be going along perfectly until... There is always an until when perfectly is happening.

Soon Kate is caught up trying to clear her brother of accusations that he's having an affair. Even worse the accuser ends up dead shortly after making her claims. Top of the suspect list is Kate, her brother Paul, and her sister-in-law Susie! 

With help from her brother's best friend (and her secret teenage crush), Reid Kate is determined to uncover the truth and point the police and the press in the right direction. There is just one little, itty, bitty problem she may have attracted the killer's attention, WHOOPS! And against everyone's advice, she just can't help herself; she has to keep looking for answers.

This is a fun, mostly light read that is entertaining and engaging. It's a book that one can put down if need be (like for work or bed), but fully anticipating the next reading session. This is a perfect read if you just want to unwind and relax and not get wound up in an intense mystery. This book has all the charm one would expect from a small Southern city but just enough intrigue to keep it interesting.

So sit back, curl into your favorite cozy spot and escape to Fox Island. You'll enjoy the visit and be left looking forward to your next visit!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: Clutter Free
Series: An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery #1
Author: Jackie Layton
Publisher: Level Best Books
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Genre: Clean Cozy Mystery

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner. 

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Kate’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

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About the Author

Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina, where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies. She always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Be careful what you say around her, because it might end up in a book.

Connect with Jackie by visiting jackielaytoncozyauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

 

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Tour Giveaway

 The (1) winner will win a paperback copy of Clutter Free and Weeding Out Lies, 

a $10 Starbucks gift card, and a polka dot shopping bag!

One (1) additional winner will win a paperback copy of Clutter Free!

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight on September 11, 2023, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 18, 2023. The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Deep Blue Murder ~ Review

Deep Blue Murder

A Fiona Quinn Mystery #11

By C.S. McDonald

Fiona Quinn and her now husband, Nathan Landry, have been offered a free weekend getaway in the Bahamas. What newlyweds would turn down such a chance? Not Nate and Fiona, but maybe they should have? Especially since it was going to be a "working" trip for Nate's mom, Rita. But what could go wrong in paradise? A whole lot!  Especially when you are stuck on an island with no connections to the outside world, as in no phones, computers, or anything. Yikes!

But the island does offer monkeys, beaches, and an interesting mix of people staying there with them. And did I say a possible scandal in the making? Yep, a real relaxing weekend getaway, NOT!                  

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was excellent, and the various potential victims and suspects make for an exciting who-did-what-to-whom to the very end. Can they find the answers they seek before the whole weekend goes horribly wrong? Probably not before a crime or two happens. But just who is the guilty party? 

And then there are Fiona's home parents there for the wedding. With an armload of Yorkies to harass her nosy neighbor and her mom, Nancy taking on her own investigation into the murder, well, it won't get boring. 

I listened to the audio version of this, and the narration was excellent. The book was narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg and was well presented. At just over 7-1/2 hours, this is the perfect busy work listen. This is most definitely a cozy mystery, and I would have no qualms recommending it to any reader over twelve years of age. This is one to add to your Summer TBR list, perfect for wherever you are when you need to getaway without going anywhere.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this audiobook with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

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Book Details:

Book Title:  Tastes Like Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #11
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  YA Fiction, 268 pages
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Nov 2022
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books, and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

About the Book:

Fiona is delighted when her new mother-in-law, Rita Landry invites her and Nathan to a private island in the Bahamas owned by a US ambassador. Sun, sandy beaches, and romantic tangerine sunsets await the newlyweds, but for Rita and her executive assistant, Hal Underwood the trip to Deep Blue Isle is a working vacation. Ambassador Taslow has summoned them to the island to discuss a scandal he has fallen victim to. However, when the Landry’s and Hal arrive, they find less than welcoming circumstances: no internet or Wi-Fi, mischievous monkeys, a dangerous tenant, and then there’s that pesky dead body.

​A storm is brewing on Deep Blue Isle, and it has nothing to do with wind and rain.

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BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister. 

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram

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Tastes Like Murder ~ Review

Tastes Like Murder

A Fiona Quinn Mystery #4

By C.S. McDonald

Fiona Quinn is the maid of honor at a murder, not that murder was on the schedule. Nope, it was supposed to be a wedding for Fiona's cousin. But when the rehearsal goes wrong and the bride ends up dead, Fiona is suspect number one. This time her "Kindergarten Teacher" persona doesn't protect her. Yikes!! 

Even worse, Fiona handled the murder weapon. It was all innocent, of course. But then it goes viral, and everyone is quick to question just what hides behind her Kindergarten Teacher façade. Double Yikes!!! 

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was excellent, and the various family members/suspects make for an exciting who-did-what-to-whom to the very end. And, yes, it was a well-played game up to the very end, and only the smallest of clues will offer the answers that they seek. 

And then there are Fiona's home parents there for the wedding. With an armload of Yorkies to harass her nosy neighbor and her mom, Nancy taking on her own investigation into the murder, well, it won't get boring. 

I listened to the audio version of this, and the narration was excellent. The book was narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg and was well presented. At 4-3/4 hours, this was the perfect quick listen as I was able to enjoy it over a week of commute time. 

This was most definitely a cozy mystery, and I would have no qualms recommending it to any reader over twelve years of age. I love Fiona's reaction when she is referred to as a ""Kindergarten teacher." And then there is Grandma Evelyn, still up to her antics in Fiona's house and always worth a smile or two. This is one to add to your Summer TBR list though maybe not at the beach.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this audiobook with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

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Book Details:

Book Title:  Tastes Like Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #4
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  YA Fiction, 202 pages
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Nov 23, 2017
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books, and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

About the Book:

The bridesmaid dresses are ruffles and ruffles of ugly, one bridesmaid is trying to micro-manage…well, pretty much everything, and the bride-to-be is a total bridezilla! Wedding bells will soon be ringing, but as usual, Fiona is a bridesmaid and not a bride. As the maid of honor, how can Fiona keep the volatile pre-wedding festivities running smoothly? 

The problem is abruptly solved when the bride drops over dead at the elegant wine-tasting wedding rehearsal. Yikes! Who poisoned the wine? The suspects are lining up, and Fiona finds herself at the top of the list! Double yikes! It’s a vintage murder case for Fiona, Detective Landry, and the gang. Cheers!

Join Fiona and the gang for a hot whodunit on the sandy beaches of Presque Isle, Pennsylvania!

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BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
Add to GoodreadsGoodreads

Meet the Author:

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister. 

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram

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Waves of Murder ~ Review

Waves of Murder
A Fiona Quinn Mystery #3

By C.S. McDonald

Summer is here, and kindergarten teacher Fiona Quinn has her summer all planned out. Until her mother, Nancy Quinn volunteers her to edit a series of books for famous romance author Wyla Parkes! Yikes!!! And she has to spend 6 weeks at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, to do the editing. Double Yikes!!!

Romance isn't Fiona's genre of choice, but she can't very say "No," when her mother promised six weeks of her summer for this project. Fiona is stuck, but at least the location is nice - and it comes with access to a private beach.

Unfortunately, it comes with access to a private beach where dead bodies start turning up, including her Summertime boss Wyla Parkes. What's she going to tell her mother???? 

Soon Fiona and her detective boyfriend are working on finding a killer. There's a steak dinner at stake. As Fiona and Nathan put everything together, they have to wonder if the cases are related or if someone is taking advantage of the situation.

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was excellent, and the various suspects make for an exciting who-did-what-to-whom to the very end. And, yes, it was a well-played game up to the very end, and only the smallest of clues will offer the answers that they seek. 

And then there are some amusing scenes at Fiona's home when Nathan checks it out while she is gone. Let's just say that the late Grandma Evelyn is up to some shenanigans that will leave Nathan scratching his head and wondering just what is going on in Fiona's house while she's away.

I listened to the audio version of this, and the narration was excellent. The book was narrated by 

• Maren Swenson Waxenberg and well presented. At just over 4 hours, this was the perfect quick listen as I was able to enjoy it over a week of commute time. 

This was most definitely a cozy mystery, and I would have no qualms recommending it to any reader over twelve years of age. I love Fiona's takes whenever anyone refers to her as a ""Kindergarten teacher." This is played out several times throughout the book and always elicits at least a smile, if not a laugh. This is one to add to your Summer TBR list though maybe not at the beach.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this audiobook with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

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Book Details:

Book Title:  Waves of Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #3
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  YA Fiction, 190 pages
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Apr 11, 2017
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books, and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

About the Book:

School's out for the summer!

Kindergarten teacher Fiona Quinn is looking forward to spending some quality time in her yard and with her boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry. However, Fiona's plans get squelched when her mother volunteers her to edit a manuscript for famous romance author Wyla Parkes.

What's so bad about that? The author insists Fiona must work on the manuscript at her beach cottage on Presque Isle - three hours away from her yard and Nathan. Spending six weeks in an adorable cottage on a private beach doesn't really seem all that bad until people start turning up dead - beginning with the author! Fiona's summer of sun and sand is instantly transformed into a murder investigation. Can Fiona and Nathan crack the case, or will the murderer get away on a wave of deceit?

Join Fiona and the gang for a hot whodunit on the sandy beaches of Presque Isle, Pennsylvania!

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BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister. 

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram

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Double Dog Dare ~ Review

 

Double Dog Dare

The Owl's Nest Mysteries #3

By C.S. McDonald

Read by Maren Swenson Waxenberg

Detective Bobby Starr is back and Alexa is about to be pulled into another unsolved cold case from Bobby's past. But this time, everything is different. First off, they are given five days rather than three to solve the case. And the potential suspect has two potential murders tied to his name. And if Bobby can solve this case, he'll be part of Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. And Alexa is more than ready to have Bobby out of her life.

But when Alexa is suddenly thrown back into the future, her feelings of unease are explained. Worse she's brought a tag-along from the past with her, and that's in addition to the always slumbering Bassett Hound that has somehow made its way into her home. Soon Alexa is caught up in her contemporary troubles while Bobby continues working on his murder case from 1963. 

Double Dog Dare offers a change-up to the previous cases that Saint Pete has sent this sleuthing duo on. The unexpected twists find Bobby and Alexa working hard to find answers to different questions this time. As always, this book is a fun and entertaining escape from this reader's day-to-day. It is written so a reader new to the series could easily pick this up and enjoy it as a standalone title. And then there is a particularly amusing scene with a Roomba, you have to read it to fully enjoy it! This a contemporary read that is a cozy mystery that as well as magical realism with a touch of romance. The book is just over seven and a half hours, making it a perfect afternoon/evening commute listen.  The narration by Maren Swenson Waxenberg is well done, the pacing is good, and provides an excellent version of this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - All thoughts expressed are my own.

Book Details:

Book Title: Double Dog Dare (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) 

Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  Adult Fiction, 274 pages
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  May 2022
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

00:00

00:00

Prologue - Double Dog Dare

Book Description:

That ornery, but oh, so handsome, charming, and somewhat, wayward angel, Detective Bobby Starr, has returned. This time, he’s back to fulfill his third and, hopefully, his final requirement to get into Saint Peter's prestigious Guardian Angel Squad. This time, the usually reluctant time traveler, Alexa Owl, is ready to go back to the 1960's to assist in solving one more long-ago murder. Why? Because if all goes well, she'll be rid of the menacing angel once and for all. Except, an emergency jerks Alexa back to her own time, and to complicate matters, she’s got a tag-along. Can Bobby solve this last case without Alexa’s help? After all, she’s got her hands full with a life-or-death mystery in the twenty-first century!

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible 
add to goodreads

Also Available:

Book Details:

Book Title:  Back to the Burgh and Beyond (The Owl's Nest Mysteries, Book 1) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  Adult Fiction, 208 pages
Run Time: 5 hours, 59 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Sep 10, 2020
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

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Book Description:

​Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He's been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!

Buy the Book:
Audible
Amazon ~ B&N
Add to Goodreads

Book Details:

Book Title:  Maxed Out (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  Adult Fiction, 184 pages
Length: 5 hours, 32 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  April 2021
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

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Book Description:

The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!

Buy the Book:
Audible
Amazon ~ B&N
add to goodreads

Meet the Narrator:

Ms. Waxenberg is a voice-over artist and presentation coach.  She serves as a consultant to the Professional Development Company, Inc., teaching presentation and interview skills seminars to a variety of clients, Columbia MBA, and SIPA graduate students.  Maren has a 30-year background in special events, performing arts production and the entertainment industry.   In 1996, she founded Maren Productions which produces audio books, radio and television voice-overs, and podcasts.  Maren Productions also offers special event production and consultancy services. 

Ms. Waxenberg has worked in Special event production with George Trescher Associates, theater production and management at the TheatreVirginia in Richmond, the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, and The New Dramatists in New York. She edited and formatted feature films for ABC Motion Picture Post Production.  Maren served as the concert manager of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall for four years, produced events for the promotion department of The New York Daily News, and has produced chamber music recitals at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.  Ms, Waxenberg has produced, directed and performed in numerous Off-Broadway theatre productions.  She trained with the CoActive Training Institute.

Meet the Author:

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister. 

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram

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Maxed Out ~ Review with Giveaway

 

Maxed Out
The Owl's Nest Mysteries #2

By C.S. McDonald

Read by Maren Swenson Waxenberg

Alexa Owl's life is going great. Her couturier shop is doing well. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Cliff Slater, is heading toward love if she is reading things correctly. There is just one little hiccup to mess with her life - Detective Bobby Starr is back and has another case that needs Alexa's assistance.

But this time, the dearly departed that needs Alexa and Bobby's help doesn't seem so innocent to Alexa. But Maxine Krogen is the next case Bobby's been assigned on his quest to join the Guardian Angel Squad, so it's back to the 1950s and some truly fabulous clothes.

But as Alexa looks for clues using the technology of today, she finds herself drawn to Hank's Sandwich Shop with its tragic past. Not that Hank has any link to her case with Bobby, but still, there is something...

As before, Alexa and Bobby have 3 days to solve the case and determine who killed Maxi's husband and landed her in the doghouse. With time against them and a less-than-helpful widow tagging along, this case just might prove a bit more challenging than their last case.

Maxed Out is the second book in The Owl's Nest Mysteries, and all the cast is back as Alexa tries to balance life in her present and her time-shifting excursions - which may result in a few hiring mishaps abilities, which are less than stellar.  Maxed Out is a contemporary read that is a cozy mystery that also could be a candidate for magical realism with a touch of romance. The book isn't long, coming in under six hours, and would make a perfect afternoon read - especially if you have an evening commute on your schedule.  The narration by Maren Swenson Waxenberg is well done, the pacing is good, and she makes Maxi even less appealing than she is in the printed version.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - All thoughts expressed are my own.

* Per the author, the content rating is G, but for those wanting a clean read, there are pointed hints at relationships that have intimacy outside of marriage - nothing is shown on the page.

Book Details:

Book Title:  Maxed Out (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  Adult Fiction, 184 pages  or 5 hours, 32 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  April 2021
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

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Book Description:

The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!

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Also Available

Book Details:

Book Title:  Back to the Burgh and Beyond (The Owl's Nest Mysteries, Book 1) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  Adult Fiction, 208 pages or 5 hours, 59 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Sep 10, 2020
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

Book Description:

​Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He's been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!

Buy the Book:
Audible
Amazon ~ B&N
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Narrator:

Ms. Waxenberg is a voice-over artist and presentation coach.  She serves as a consultant to the Professional Development Company, Inc., teaching presentation and interview skills seminars to a variety of clients, Columbia MBA, and SIPA graduate students.  Maren has a 30-year background in special events, performing arts production and the entertainment industry.   In 1996, she founded Maren Productions which produces audio books, radio and television voice-overs, and podcasts.  Maren Productions also offers special event production and consultancy services. 

Ms. Waxenberg has worked in Special event production with George Trescher Associates, theater production and management at the TheatreVirginia in Richmond, the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, and The New Dramatists in New York. She edited and formatted feature films for ABC Motion Picture Post Production.  Maren served as the concert manager of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall for four years, produced events for the promotion department of The New York Daily News, and has produced chamber music recitals at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.  Ms, Waxenberg has produced, directed and performed in numerous Off-Broadway theatre productions.  She trained with the CoActive Training Institute.

Meet the Author:

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister. 

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram

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Tour Schedule:

Oct 3 –Mystery Review Crew – book spotlight of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 3 –Paws.Read.Repeat – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 4 –Duckfacekim09 – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 4 - Leanne bookstagram  - book review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 5 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 6 -Literary Flits – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
​Oct 6 - Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 7 – Books for Books – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH
Oct 11 - Leanne bookstagram  - book review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 12 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 12 -Duckfacekim09 – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 13 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 13 - Bigreadersite  - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 14 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 17 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of BACK TO THE BURGH / giveaway
Oct 17 - Paws.Read.Repeat – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 18 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of MAXED OUT / giveaway
Oct 18 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 19 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 20 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE - giveaway
Oct 20 - Leanne bookstagram  - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 21 – Books for Books – audiobook review of MAXED OUT
Oct 24 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 24 - Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 25 - Cheryl's Book Nook  - book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 26 –Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – book review of DOUBLE DOG DARE / giveaway
Oct 28 - Books for Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE
TBD – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of DOUBLE DOG DARE

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