Book Review and Giveaway - In Cold Chocolate: A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery by Dorothy St. James

Book Synopsis

In Dorothy St. James’s third delectable Southern Chocolate Shop mystery, a new batch of chocolate and troubles of the heart cause a string of disasters for the Chocolate Box’s new owner, Charity Penn.

The vintage seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina seems like the perfect place for romance with its quiet beach and its decadent chocolate shop that serves the world’s richest dark chocolates. The Chocolate Box’s owner, Charity Penn, falls even further under the island’s moonlit spell as she joins Althea Bays and the rest of the turtle watch team to witness a new generation of baby sea turtles hatch and make their way into the wide ocean.

Before the babies arrive, gunshots ring out in the night. Cassidy Jones, the local Casanova, is found dead in the sand with his lover Jody Dalton—the same woman who has vowed to destroy the Chocolate Box—holding the gun. It’s an obvious crime of passion, or so everyone believes. But when Jody’s young son pleads with Penn to bring his mother back to him, she can’t say no. She dives headfirst into a chocolate swirl of truth and lies, and must pick through an assortment of likely (and sometimes unsavory) suspects before it’s too late for Penn and for those she loves in Dorothy St. James’s third rich installment of the Southern Chocolate Shop mysteries, In Cold Chocolate.

My Review
Penn (Charity Penn) is managing her shop, The Chocolate Box on Camellia Island, SC when she becomes involved in a mystery.  A man is shot on the beach, turtle eggs go missing, and her new turtle shape chocolates also disappear.  Penn determines to solve all three mysteries.

In Cold Chocolate is my first read in the Chocolate Shop Mystery series.  It took me a few chapters to sort out the characters, but by that time I was thoroughly engrossed in the mystery and enjoying the book as a standalone read.  (Note:  I did purchase and download the first two books for Kindle tonight.  I have to read them!)

There is so much I loved about this book.  First, I loved the setting.  I spent my early years in Savannah and loved the Lowcountry South Carolina beach setting.


I found the sea turtle storyline in this novel fascinating!  The author provided a wealth of interesting details about how sea turtles lay eggs and hatch, and I really enjoyed learning as I read.

The chocolate making details in this book were also interesting.  There were even recipes included in the back of the book!  I love benne wafers and want to try that recipe.

I also am a dog lover and enjoyed all the scenes with Stella.  She is a dog with a very quirky but lovable personality!

Penn is a likable, relatable character.  I enjoyed the way she balanced her work at the Chocolate Box, her amateur detective search, her friendships, and her budding romance with Harley.  

I liked the layers of the mystery -- the murder, the sea turtle eggs, and the missing chocolates storyline.  I figured the murderer's identity out early on, but enjoyed reading the way that Penn solved the mystery in the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed In Cold Chocolate and recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, especially anyone who loves Southern beach settings, animals and nature, or food and cooking.  You are in for a treat with this novel!

Author Bio

Mystery author Dorothy St. James was raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on the outskirts of Charleston, South Carolina with her husband, a neurotic dog, and a fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn’t as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

* Dorothy St. James is the alter-ego of award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls. She enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader’s Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: “amazing”, “perfect”, “filled with emotion”, and “lined with danger.”

Author Links
Website: www.dorothystjames.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dorothystjames
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dorothymcfalls
Purchase Links

Indie Bound    Amazon      Kobo      Google Play      Barnes & Noble      BookBub

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Great Escapes Book Tours.

Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: Dachshunds Join a Sausage Walk in London

Dear Friends,

I'm on the run, so I'll be short (no pun intended!) and sweet today.   I wanted to share a video I found.  It makes me very happy!  This video shows a huge dachshund meet up for a sausage dog walk in London.  There are hundreds of doxies who joined in -- all ages, coats, colors, and sizes from mini to standard.   I really loved this and thought you would enjoy it too.   (I especially like the jeans jacket that one of the doxies is wearing!)



If you have a dog has he or she ever attended a big dog gathering?   How did that go?   I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks

Book Synopsis
An artist hiding from an escaped killer uncovers one of World War II’s most dangerous secrets—a secret that desperate men will do anything to keep hidden. 

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

My Review
Formula of Deception tells the story Murphy Anderson, an artist who has changed her appearance and name and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, after her sister was murdered.  Murphy unexpectedly slips into work as a forensic artist with the local police department.  She becomes involved in a mysterious case involving a remote World War II Quonset hut in Alaska.  And then she learns that her sister's killer is on the loose.

I was intrigued by this novel from the start.  The World War II period mystery in the story and the Alaska setting made me want to read the book.

This is such a fast paced and suspenseful novel!  I began reading Saturday evening and finished Sunday afternoon because I could not let the book go until I knew what happened.

Murphy is a fascinating character.  I like the way Carrie Stuart Parks introduced more details about Murphy bit by bit, including some real surprises.

The pacing of Formula of Deception is exceptional.   It is so fast paced.  I am usually a leisurely reader who reads an hour or so at bedtime.  This is a novel that demands more.

I'm glad the author included a family tree at the beginning of the book.  I bookmarked it and referred several times to the character history in that tree.   

I have never read about the work of a forensic artist before and found that aspect of the novel unusually interesting.  The author has a background as a forensic artist, and the details of this work were fascinating.

There are many twists and turns in this novel as the story of the World War II era mystery, the current day implications of those events, and the murder of Murphy's sister all unfold.  Every time I thought I knew the answer there was another surprise.  The ending denouement was so unexpected!

I highly recommend Formula of Deception for fans of fast paced, exciting mysteries, and especially for anyone interested in Alaskan life.

Author Bio
Carrie Stuart Parks is an ECPA Christy Award and multiple ACFW Carol and Inspy Award–winning author. An internationally known forensic artist, Carrie draws on her extensive experience with actual criminal investigations to write authentic, true-to-life fictional suspense. Carrie lives in Idaho and travels with her husband, Rick, across the US and Canada, teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement professionals. She has won numerous awards for her fine art and is the author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing and painting. CarrieStuartParks.com, Facebook: CarrieStuartParksAuthor, Twitter: @CarrieParks.

 

Connect with Carrie

Website | Facebook | Twitter

I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours.

Book Review - Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Coloring Book By Thomas Nelson Gift Books

Book Synopsis
If you rush to Starbucks at the first hint of cool weather . . . If Pumpkin Spice Latte is your fall drink of choice . . . If you need a way to recover from a busy summer and take a breath before a busy holiday season, this book is for you. Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Coloring Book includes gorgeous illustrations featuring your favorite images of autumn. This one-of-a-kind adult coloring book has classic fall quotes, fun sayings, and Bible verses featured alongside detailed coloring pages. 

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Coloring Book offers hours of enjoyment and reflection and makes the perfect gift for anyone who loves fall. 

So settle in by a crackling fire for an evening of relaxation, rest, and pumpkin spice! 

My Review
I was interested in this adult coloring book from just hearing the title alone.  I love fall, love all things pumpkin spice, and find coloring very relaxing!

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice surpassed my expectations.  This is a big book (10" x 10").  The pages are thick and suitable for coloring with pencil or markers.  I colored a page with markers and there was no "bleed through" on the other side of the page.

The pages are also perforated so you can remove them to frame or display.  

The illustrations in this book are by Julianne St. Clair and her designs are really lovely.   There are 90 designs to color.  Some are quotes or Bible verses.   There are some very intricate patterns to color and there are also some simple pages to color.  I really like the variety of coloring patterns in this book, as it gives a lot of variety.   The quotes and simpler designs are nice to color when time is short.  

My favorite quote about fall is included:  "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers"  (Lucy Maud Montgomery).   Designs in this book include:  pumpkins, fall leaves, Thanksgiving dinner, fresh baked pies, harvest corn, mittens, campfire, farm, hayride, fireplace, apples, warm mugs with cocoa (or maybe pumpkin spice latte!), and more.

As always, I find coloring to be very relaxing and pleasant.  I especially enjoy coloring while listening to favorite music.  Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice is an very well made coloring book, and I look forward to enjoying more coloring in this book through this fall!   

I received a copy of this book from Booklook Bloggers.

Dear Abby - Doxieposse Pals

Dear Friends,

I wanted to send you a link to a Facebook page that is near and dear to my heart.  Doxieposse Pals is a gathering of dachshund friends, with fun little daily pictures, cartoons, photos and stories.  You'll find it on Facebook:  Doxieposse Pals.

This group started over the summer as a tribute to our very dear friend, Angela Williams, who maintained the original Doxieposse page.  When Angela passed away suddenly, several of her friends got together to start this tribute page in her honor.  There are several ladies who take turns posting there -- Barbara, Brenda, De, and my momma, Trish.  That is Angela's beloved pup, Gizmo, that you see in the photo for our group, above.  Gizmo and Angela were guests here at my blog several times.  You'll find several of the posts here:  Gizmo visits Dear Abby.

Here are a few glimpses of what you will find at Doxieposse Pals.

These sound like good words to live by:

My buddy Oz enjoying a ray of sunshine:

A little dachshund humor (that pup deserves a trip to PetSmart!):

More dachshund humor, although I don't want to say I definitely agree with this:

My friend Gizmo in his toy basket!

And me cuddling my toys (they are my lovies):

A spoiled dog test.  Hmm, why is this right after the picture of me?!?!

Dachshunds enjoying a sunny day at the pool - ahhh!

My Momma says this may be true:

And, since it is Friday:

 I hope you enjoyed these pictures.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo