Showing posts with label Tracy Weber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tracy Weber. Show all posts

Friday, February 13, 2015

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #69


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It's Friday . . . time to share excerpts from one of my current reads 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 Killer Retreat (A Downward Dog Mystery, #2) 

I finished this delightful cozy mystery this week for a blog tour.  You can read my review here.

Beginning:  One
"This is bad, Michael.  She's not responding.  I think she might be dead."
 
********************* 
Page 56: "I paused, searching for something--anything--truthful to say that wouldn't hurt my friend's feelings.  I considered fibbing, but lying would go against satya--yoga's principle of truthfulness."
*********************   


Which book are you reading now or about to start?
 
Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #69 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.    
 
 
 
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Thursday, February 12, 2015

Thursday Thoughts: PICT Blog Tour Book Review: A Killer Retreat


A Killer Retreat (A Downward Dog Mystery, #2) 






Today I'm participating in the Partners in Crime blog tour of A Killer Retreat by Tracy Weber . . .

Series:  A Downward Dog Mystery (Book 2)
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by: Midnight Ink
Publication Date: Jan 8, 2015  
Number of Pages:  319
ISBN:  978-0738742090

Purchase Links:  
Amazon
Barnes & Noble 
Goodreads 
Synopsis . . . When Kate Davidson gets an offer to teach yoga classes to wedding guests at the Elysian Springs resort, she jumps at the opportunity, even though it means being forced to endure the wedding ceremony of the center's two caretakers. Avoiding the M-word turns out to be the least of Kate's problems when a wedding guest is found floating face-down in the resort's hot tub, shortly after a loud, public (and somewhat embarrassing) fight with Kate.

The police pick Kate as their number-one suspect, so she's forced to team up with boyfriend Michael, best friend Rene, and German shepherd sidekick Bella to find the real killer.  They'll have to solve the murder before the police arrest Kate, or her next gig may last a lifetime--behind bars.


My Review . . . This second installment of the Downward Dog series takes Kate away from her Seattle yoga studio for a 10-day working vacation at Elysian Springs, an eco-friendly resort on beautiful Orcas Island.  Accompanying Kate on this adventure are Bella the German shepherd, who is now a permanent resident of her household,  Kate's boyfriend Michael, best friend Rene, and Rene's husband Sam.

Kate's experience is anything but Zen-like as she interacts with spa staff and the group of wedding guests, and it isn't long before Kate publicly loses her patience with Monica, the bride-to-be's obnoxious stepmother.  Although almost everyone on the island has reason to despise Monica and do her harm, Kate becomes the prime murder suspect when Monica's lifeless body is found floating in a hot tub. 

Adding to Kate's stress level is Rene's odd behavior, which is causing rifts in their friendship and in Rene's marriage, along with the accelerated pace of Kate's romance with Michael.  As she works to clear her name and unmask the real killer, Kate struggles to resolve other issues that threaten her inner serenity.  Can she uncover what is causing Rene's distress and negatively affecting her marriage?  And, will "serial dumper" Kate find a way to keep her relationship with Michael on an even keel?

Secrets and hidden agendas unravel in this well-crafted tale filled with memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, and a satisfying conclusion.  Weber has delivered an appealing series with a bright future.

Disclaimer . . . I was given a copy of A Killer Retreat in exchange for an honest review.

Click here to read my review of Murder Strikes a Pose, the first book in the Downward Dog series.


About the Author . . . Tracy Weber is the author of the award-winning Downward Dog Mysteries series featuring yoga teacher Kate and her feisty German shepherd, Bella.  She is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and Sisters in Crime.  

Tracy and her husband live in Seattle with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd Tasha.  She loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible.  When she’s not writing, Tracy spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sipping Blackthorn cider at her favorite ale house.

Visit Tracy at: Website, Twitter, Facebook


 








Thursday Thoughts: PICT Blog Tour Book Review: A Killer Retreat was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.


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Friday, August 15, 2014

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #53


16
It's Friday . . . time to share excerpts from one of my current reads 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:
Murder Strikes a Pose 

I finished this delightful cozy mystery this week for a blog tour.  You can read my review here.

Murder Strikes A Pose has been selected by Amazon for a special "Big Deal" promotion through August 24. Only $1.99! Normally $8.39 at Amazon's discounted rate. http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Strikes-Pose-Downward-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00H3R53NM/

Beginning:  One
I laid my body on the cool wood floor, covered up with a blanket, and prepared to die.  
Metaphorically, that is.
Corpse Pose's ten-minute rest always soothed my stressed-out nerves, and for once I didn't feel guilty about the indulgence.  My to-do list was blank, Serenity Yoga's phone was silent, and I had a whole blissful hour between clients to do my favorite activity: practice yoga.

********************* 
56% of e-book: ". . .The minute I start asking questions, people know I'm up to something.  I'm not exactly Nancy Drew."
*********************   


Which book are you reading now or about to start?
 
Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings #53 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.    


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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Thursday Thoughts: PICT Blog Tour Book Review: Murder Strikes a Pose

 


Today I'm participating in the Partners in Crime blog tour of Murder Strikes A Pose by Tracy Weber . . .

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by: Midnight Ink
Publication Date: Jan 8, 2014
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-0738739687

Purchase Links:



Synopsis . . . When George and Bella—a homeless alcoholic and his intimidating German shepherd—disturb the peace outside her studio, yoga instructor Kate Davidson’s Zen-like calm is stretched to the breaking point. Kate tries to get rid of them before Bella scares the yoga pants off her students. Instead, the three form an unlikely friendship.
One night Kate finds George’s body behind her studio. The police dismiss his murder as a drug-related street crime, but she knows George wasn’t a dealer. So Kate starts digging into George’s past while also looking for someone to adopt Bella before she’s sent to the big dog park in the sky. With the murderer nipping at her heels, Kate has to work fast or her next Corpse Pose may be for real.
My Review . . . Kate Davidson, owner of Serenity Yoga, finds her life far from serene when she discovers the corpse of the homeless man she recently befriended in the parking lot of her studio.  Who could have done such a thing to George, an apparently harmless down-on-his-luck soul, and what will become of his beloved yet behaviorally-challenged dog Bella?  The police are convinced that George died in a drunken brawl or as a result of illegal activity, but Kate's intuition tells her differently.  Although her plate is full between running her business and trying to find a home for the exuberant hard-to-place Bella, Kate embarks on her own investigation, much to the consternation of the local authorities.  Persistent Kate is like a dog with a bone, refusing to give up the hunt for the killer, despite the setbacks, dead ends, and physical danger she experiences along the way.  Will Kate ultimately unmask the murderer and secure justice for her friend George . . . or become the next victim?

On first impression, the urban Seattle setting, quirky cast of characters, and snappy dialogue make this an entertaining debut cozy mystery.  As the story unfolds, however, it is evident that Murder Strikes A Pose is more than just a murder mystery.  Weber deftly balances the plot with life-affirming situations, drawing readers into both a compassionate search to find a home for special-needs Bella and the comic romantic plight of commitment-phobic Kate, who finds herself in a budding relationship with her potential Mr. Right,  the local pet shop owner.  Moreover, the inclusion of yoga's core principles of kindness and compassion in the storyline make this a refreshingly new entry into the cozy mystery genre.

The series is off to a promising start, and is a good choice for dog lovers, yoga enthusiasts, and cozy mystery fans alike.  I hope it won't be too long until the intrepid Kate and her circle of friends make their next appearance.

Disclaimer . . .
I was given a copy of Murder Strikes A Pose in exchange for an honest review.



About the Author . . .


Tracy Weber's writing is an expression of the things she loves best: yoga, dogs, and murder mysteries.

The author is a certified yoga teacher and the founder of Whole Life Yoga, an award-winning yoga studio in Seattle, WA. She enjoys sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible.

Weber and her husband live with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd Tasha and bonito flake-loving cat Maggie. When she's not writing, Tracy spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sipping Blackthorn cider at her favorite local ale house.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, The Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and the Dog Writers Association of America.














 The Murder Strikes A Pose Blog Tour Participants
Thursday Thoughts: PICT Blog Tour Book Review: Murder Strikes A Pose was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.






 

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