Friday, November 18, 2022

Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Death on a Deadline by Joyce St. Anthony


Today I'm participating in the Death on a Deadline Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and author information along with my review.  And be sure to enter the giveaway below.

 

About the book . . .

  

Death on a Deadline (A Homefront News Mystery)

 Historical Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Crooked Lane Books (November 8, 2022)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639101152
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639101153
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09S3GBPM4
 

 

Synopsis . . .  Editor-in-chief Irene Ingram pencils in her newest mystery in Joyce St. Anthony’s second captivating Homefront News mystery, perfect for fans of Anne Perry and Rhys Bowen.

As World War II rages in Europe and the Pacific, the small town of Progress is doing its part for the soldiers in the field with a war bond drive at the annual county fair. Town gossip Ava Dempsey rumors that Clark Gable will be among the participating stars. Instead of Gable, the headliner is Freddie Harrison, a B-movie star. When Freddie turns up dead in the dunk tank, Irene Ingram, editor-in-chief of The Progress Herald, starts chasing the real headline.

There are plenty of suspects and little evidence. Ava’s sister Angel, who was married to the dead actor, is the most obvious. The couple had argued about his affair with the young starlet Belinda Fox, and Angel was the last person to see Freddie alive.

Irene discovers there’s more than one person who might have wanted Freddie dead. As Irene draws on her well-honed reporter’s instincts to find the killer—nothing is what it seems in Progress, and now her own deadline could be right around the corner. 

 

My review . . . Patriotic fervor is strong in the small town of Progress, Pennsylvania, where a war bond drive is underway at the annual county fair. A group of lesser-known actors from the Hollywood Victory Committee descend on Progress with their entourage, boosting bond sales and creating unexpected drama. Among them is heart throb Freddie Harrison, traveling with both his wife Angel, daughter of the local diner proprietor and sister of the beauty salon owner, and his girlfriend Belinda, a fellow actor.

When Freddie's lifeless body is found floating in the dunk tank at the fairgrounds, the women in his life are the obvious suspects. But are either Angel or Belinda capable of murder? The police open an investigation, as does Irene Ingram, the editor-in-chief of The Progress Herald, who puts her journalistic skills and curiosity to the test. Ultimately, Irene uncovers unseemly behavior on Freddie's part that widens the list of suspects dramatically. And time is of the essence to identify the culprit after a second victim is discovered. Can Irene solve the crime before the killer strikes a third time?

At its heart, Death on a Deadline is an engaging story that captures life on the home front during the second world war. Readers get a realistic sense of the importance of women in keeping businesses and families intact in the face of uncertainty. Scandal and murder brought to the small town by outsiders add to the story's appeal. After all, Progress is a sleepy place where people know each other and live in relative harmony. Unlike most cozy mysteries where law enforcement is at odds with the amateur sleuth, a close bond between the protagonist and the police chief allows them to work cooperatively, sharing clues and developments that help crack the case.

While there are references to the first book in the series within its pages, Death by Deadline can be read as a standalone. In fact, snippets from the previous book actually whet the appetite, beckoning readers to reach for it—if they haven't already—as they await the next book in this captivating historical series. Joyce St. Anthony has created a setting and characters that successful cozy series are noted for, and one that readers will enjoy returning to again and again.

 

Giveaway . . .  Enter the contest for a chance to win a copy of Death by Deadline by clicking here.

 

About the author . . .   Joyce St. Anthony was a police secretary for ten years and more than once envisioned the demise of certain co-workers, but settled on writing as a way to keep herself out of jail.

 

In addition to the Homefront News Mysteries, she is the author of the Brewing Trouble Mysteries and the upcoming Cider House Mysteries written under her own name, Joyce Tremel. She lives in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania with her husband.

 

Author links . . .

Website:      http://www.joycetremel.com     

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/JoyceTremel

Twitter:       https://twitter.com/JoyceTremel

 

Purchase links . . . AmazonB&NKoboPenguin Random House   

 

Blog Tours 

 

Tour participants . . .

November 7 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 8 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

November 9 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 10 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 10 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 12 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 14 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT  

November 14 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 15 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 16 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

November 18 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

November 19 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

November 20 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – AUTHOR GUEST POST

 

 

Note . . . I received a complimentary copy of Death on a Deadline from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



 
This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.  It cannot be republished without attribution. 

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings

16

 It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:

  • Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
  • The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an eBook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Today I'm featuring a recent blog tour read, Death on a Deadline by Joyce St. Anthony, the second book in the Homefront News mystery series. The excerpts shared are from an eBook provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 


 

Beginning:  "Clark Gable is coming to Progress and will be appearing at our war bond drive," Ava Dempsey said. "I have it on good authority."

********************  

56% of eBook:  There was a tangled thread of something tickling the back of my brain that I couldn't quite unravel. Whatever it was, Louise wouldn't talk about it. Neither would Kirk. I'd talk to Ken tomorrow and see if he remembered anything. And then I'd talk to Kirk again. I only hoped he'd be sober when I did.

********************  

My thoughts:  At its heart, Death on a Deadline is an engaging story that captures life on the home front in Progress, Pennsylvania during the second world war. Readers get a realistic sense of the importance of women in keeping businesses and families intact in the face of uncertainty. Scandal and murder brought to the sleepy small town by outsiders add to the story's appeal, making this a delightful series that cozy mystery lovers and historical fiction fans will enjoy.

********************  

From GoodReads: Editor-in-chief Irene Ingram pencils in her newest mystery in Joyce St. Anthony’s second captivating Homefront News mystery, perfect for fans of Anne Perry and Rhys Bowen.

As World War II rages in Europe and the Pacific, the small town of Progress is doing its part for the soldiers in the field with a war bond drive at the annual county fair. Town gossip Ava Dempsey rumors that Clark Gable will be among the participating stars. Instead of Gable, the headliner is Freddie Harrison, a B-movie star. When Freddie turns up dead in the dunk tank, Irene Ingram, editor-in-chief of The Progress Herald, starts chasing the real headline.

There are plenty of suspects and little evidence. Ava’s sister Angel, who was married to the dead actor, is the most obvious. The couple had argued about his affair with the young starlet Belinda Fox, and Angel was the last person to see Freddie alive.

Irene discovers there’s more than one person who might have wanted Freddie dead. As Irene draws on her well-honed reporter’s instincts to find the killer—nothing is what it seems in Progress, and now her own deadline could be right around the corner.




*******************

This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.

 

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James




Today I'm participating in the A Book Club to Die For Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and author information along with my review.  And be sure to enter the giveaway below.


About the book . . .  

A Book Club to Die For (Beloved Bookroom Mystery)

 Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Cypress, South Carolina
‎Berkley (November 1, 2022)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593098633
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593098639
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09PZSBCVW

 

Synopsis . . . When a member of an exclusive book club is checked out, spunky librarian Trudell Becket must sort fact from fiction to solve the murder.

The Cypress Arete Society is one of the town’s oldest and most exclusive clubs. When assistant librarian Trudell Becket is invited to speak to the group about the library, its modernization, and her efforts to bring printed books to the reading public, her friend Flossie invites herself along. Flossie has been on the book club’s waiting list for five years, and she’s determined to find out why she’s never received an invitation to join.

But not long after Tru and Flossie arrive for the meeting, they’re shocked to find the club’s president, Rebecca White, dead in the kitchen. Rebecca was a former TV actress and local celebrity, but was not known for being patient or pleasant. She’d been particularly unkind to the book club’s host for the evening, who also happens to be the mother of Detective Jace Bailey, Tru’s boyfriend. And Rebecca had made it clear that she didn’t think Flossie was book club material.

With her boyfriend and one of her best friends wrapped up in a murder, Tru has to work fast to figure out who cut Rebecca’s story short before the killer takes another victim out of circulation….

 

My review . . . Mystery-solving librarian Tru Becket has more than her share of mystifying circumstances to confront in book three of the Beloved Bookroom series: both her good friend Flossie and boyfriend Jace's mother Hazel are the main suspects in the murder of the president of the highly selective Arete Society book club; her father Ashley has disappeared without a trace; and her cat Dewey Decimal is behaving more oddly than usual. As troubling as an incommunicado parent and misbehaving pet can be, the hunt for an elusive killer takes center stage for Tru . . .

Tru is compelled to undertake an investigation to find the guilty party and clear the names of the women she cares about. This is no easy task as the victim, Rebecca White, antagonized and intimidated many of the town folk she came in contact with. There is no shortage of suspects, including members and aspiring members of the Arete Society. Tru must discover who had the strongest motive--and the opportunity--to murder Rebecca. And time is of the essence as Tru's proximity to the truth puts her own life in danger. Is Tru up to the task? 

And in other matters . . . will Tru get to the bottom of her father's disappearance? Can she figure out why Dewey is acting destructively towards certain books in the library? Is there any connection between these odd occurrences and Rebecca's death?

In A Book Club to Die For, author Dorothy St. James has once again crafted an enjoyable blend of mystery, humor, and romance. Her talent for presenting numerous viable suspects and planting misleading clues keeps the plot moving forward at a satisfying pace. It's always a pleasure to visit St. James's small town of Cypress, South Carolina, where the unexpected is second nature for its eccentric book-loving residents. At the end of this installment, I'm left to wonder what further adventures and personal developments await in this series that is an ode to libraries and book lovers of all kinds.

 

Giveaway . . .   

    https://www.filepicker.io/api/file/QtHRbJznQIWAIWK3YRKI/convert?dl=false&crop=0,0,1489,2016&quality=95&fit=scale&cache=true

Enter for a chance to win a library-theme tote bag filled with books and goodies by clicking this link.

 

About the author . . .  Dorothy St. James is a former Folly Beach beach bum. She now lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with her family, slightly (OK, terribly) needy dogs, and the friendliest cat you’ll ever meet.

 

Author of a dozen novels, Dorothy enjoys writing both cozy mysteries and romance.

 

Author links . . . 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dorothy.stjames 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dorothywrites

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dorothymcfalls

Website: www.dorothystjames.com

 

Purchase links . . . 

        AmazonPenguin Random HouseB&NKoboIndieBound  

 

Blog Tours

 

Tour Participants . . .

November 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 1 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 2 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 3 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 4 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

November 4 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

November 5 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 6 – The Book Diva’s Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 6 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 7 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 7 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

November 9 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 9 – Nadaness In Motion – SPOTLIGHT

November 10 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 10 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

 

 

Note . . . I received a complimentary copy of A Book Club to Die For from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



 
This Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.  It cannot be republished without attribution. 

Monday, November 7, 2022

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 



. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.
 
Today I'm featuring a recent blog tour read, A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James, the third book in the Beloved Bookroom mystery series. The excerpt shared is from an advance eBook provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First Chapter:  Librarians are keepers of knowledge, caretakers of truth, and sowers of wisdom. Many of us rush out to share the world with our communities with the enthusiasm of a child who has suddenly mastered a new skill. We want people to know, to know . . . well, everything.

This is our mission. This is our passion.

We are the bringers.

We are the beacons cutting through the darkest of nights.

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

As a librarian, the opening paragraphs of this book perfectly express why I pursued the profession, and why I think it is more important than ever given the amount of misinformation being disseminated. Readers who love cozy mysteries, libraries, the written word, and books will no doubt find this series as delightful as I do.




 



This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.