Murder, Mayhem & Bliss
by Loulou Harrington
The ‘reveal’ scene of this whodunit is very slick, and it was enjoyable to see the people who thought they would get away with greed and murder brought to justice.~Back Porchervations
Murder, Mayhem and Bliss (Myrtle Grove Garden Club Mystery Book 1)
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Deadly Niche Press (November 26, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-1620161418
E-Book File Size: 461 KB
ASIN: B00PFAP65E
Synopsis:
Nothing much happens in Myrtle Grove, Oklahoma. So when prominent businessman Harry Kerr is discovered face down in his pool shortly after dawn, the breakfast crowd in Jesse Camden’s tea room is buzzing. Recognizing the name, Jesse hurries to her friend Vivian Windsor, Myrtle Grove’s resident oil heiress and great-aunt to Bliss Kerr, widow of the deceased and soon-to-be prime suspect in his suspicious death.
Clearing Bliss and finding the real murderer isn’t what Jesse meant when she offered her assistance. And wrangling an eager band of helpers while chasing a tangle of leads across the countryside, tripping over deputies and evidence along the way, isn’t her first choice for her weekend. But here she is, and here she will be, hearing secrets no one should know, and discovering betrayals no one could live with, until Jesse finds her way through the maze of deceit to uncover the real killer.
About This Author:
A lifelong fan of mysteries and the cozy genre, in particular, Loulou Harrington began her published career in romances and is now happy to be writing what she has always loved to read—a good, old-fashioned mystery. Even better, she has the chance to incorporate her personal love of gardening, cooking, exploring quaint villages and wandering through the great outdoors in her new Myrtle Grove Garden Club mystery series. She sincerely hopes you will enjoy sharing this special world with her.
Loulou Harrington, AuthorMyrtle Grove Garden Club mysteries
MURDER, MAYHEM AND BLISS, Book 1
http://www.loulouharrington.com/
Author Links
Blog: http://myrtlegrovemornings.wordpress.com/
or: http://loulouwritescozy.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loulou.harrington
Twitter: https://twitter.com/loulouwrites1
Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N Book Depository
Tour Participants
January 25 – Babs Book Bistro – Guest Post, Giveaway
January 26 – Back Porchervations – Review
January 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
January 28 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – Guest Post
January 29 – Queen of All She Reads – Review
January 30 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
January 31 – deal sharing aunt – Interview
February 1 - LibriAmoriMiei – Review, Giveaway (e-book)
February 1 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
3 Partners in Shopping, have been ill for a few weeks. Thank you so much for being with us today!
Guest post;
First,
I would like to say how happy I am to be here today on 3 Partners in
Shopping; Nana, Mommy & Sissy, too! Thank you so much for having
me here. And to all the readers of this blog, thank you for taking
time out of your day to spend a little of it with me.
Be
sure to sign up for the weeklong Gift Box Giveaway with a beautiful,
vintage cake plate, crystal stemware, chocolates and a scrumptious
cake recipe just for Valentine’s Day! Oh, and an autographed print
copy of MURDER, MAYHEM AND BLISS.
And,
that said—I have a theory that if you want to have fun writing (and
I do), it’s a good idea to include a lot of things that you, the
writer, happen to enjoy in the books that you’re writing. One of
the first things I really like is a good mystery, and I hope my
Myrtle Grove Garden Club mystery series provides that. But what I’m
really talking about today is SHOPPING.
That’s
right, shopping and bargain hunting and learning to spot hidden gems.
And for me that means antiques, vintage and furniture I can fix up
and give new life to. There is nothing I would rather do of an
afternoon than to wander through an antique shop or a flea market
looking for that special piece that’s perfect just the way it is,
or the one that only needs some imagination and maybe some light blue
paint to turn it into a showstopper.
There
are tons of wonderful things out there just waiting to be discovered.
I’ve been collecting vintage china, porcelain, crystal and
furniture for years. And I don’t set my things on a shelf and just
look at them once I bring them home. I have my coffee or tea in a
different china cup and saucer each day, and they are all 75-100
years old, but that doesn’t stop me from using them.
Of
course, they’re not exactly microwaveable, and I do clean them by
hand. But they were originally made to be used. And the ones I like
the most are the ones where the gold trim on the handle is worn from
where someone’s thumb has rested from new bride to old age. These
things were a cherished part of someone’s life long before I found
them. And now they are mine to use, to care for, and someday to pass
on.
I
didn’t always appreciate these “vintage” things that are in
their second or third lifetime of use. But I’m learning that just
because they are old, doesn’t mean they aren’t still beautiful.
Because they’ve been used, doesn’t mean they aren’t still
useful. And because they may have been discarded by someone else,
doesn’t mean they aren’t still valuable to someone with the eyes
to see.
In
MURDER, MAYHEM AND BLISS, Jesse Camden co-owns a tea room where the
meals are served on vintage china and the recipes are family
hand-me-downs. She also co-owns an antique shop specializing in
estate sale items rescued from farmsteads that are being sold off by
the younger generations.
Jesse,
her mother, and friends are sharing a multi-generational effort to
salvage valuable things that are being lost to neglect and
indifference. Sometimes these valuable things are antiques that they
rescue, patch up and give a fresh coat of varnish or paint. Sometimes
these valuable things are people who finds themselves caught in a
situation beyond their control and need a helping hand.
That’s
where Jesse and the ladies of the Myrtle Grove Garden Club step in.
They’ve learned the value of friendship, and they know that things
don’t have to be perfect to be worth saving. I don’t get to talk
about antiques nearly enough in my books, because there’s always a
mystery to solve and someone who needs to be rescued. But that’s
okay. Because friendship’s pretty valuable, too, and that’s
something else I’m learning to appreciate with the passing years.
I love searching for a bargain, too. I hit yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets and clearance sales in my search. I usually don't have a particular item in mind, it's just the thrill of the hunt! I love to find a bargain but even more I love to find a unique item. Recently, I bought a sterling silver necklace and the pendant is a small bottle with a tiny lid that is removable and has a raised rose design. The lid has a small wand attached so it might be designed to hold perfume??? I don't know but I was happy to find it and I enjoy wearing it. Thank you for the great contest and happy writing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Betty. I enjoy looking even more than I enjoy buying, but I've found some beautiful things that I really treasure.
ReplyDeleteI love to bargain hunt and is a great to way to redecorate
ReplyDeleterjprazak6@gmail.com
Hi, Rebecca. I agree completely. I don't buy anything new if I can find something older that I can use or redo. It's fun, and it's rewarding. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
DeleteWhen I first started shopping for vintage items I found I would get things that I didn't necessarily love but thought were nice. Eventually, I figured out that if I didn't love it, it wouldn't bring me exquisite enjoyment! I opted for the ENJOYMENT :) Now, unless I love it, I don't buy it! It helps to keep down on clutter too.
ReplyDeleteHi, Connie. I only buy things I'm going to use, and thanks to all the antique shops in our area, I get to use some really beautiful and quality items. I loved painted vintage furniture pieces, and it's always nice to find others who feel the same way.
DeleteI want to thank you, 3 Partners in Shopping, for hosting me today. I've had a lovely time. I'm so sorry you aren't feeling well, and I hope you are all better soon. I want to thank everybody who has dropped by to take a look at my post today, and especially the ones who have left a comment. I appreciate your interest, and I want to remind everyone that there's still plenty of time to sign up for the giveaway. Thank you all.
ReplyDeletesounds like a great read & one that I would very much enjoy!!
ReplyDeletethank you for the giveaway!!!
Thank you, very much. I hope you get a chance to read it. Good luck with the giveaway.
Delete