Sunday Salon - A Couple of Reviews

Another week has passed and it’s time once again to share with you some interesting books I’ve read. Today’s Sunday Salon features an unlikely pair - a cozy mystery murder and a children’s book.

DIRTY ROTTEN TENDRILS by Kate Collins

When a guy from a small town makes it big there’s bound to be a few unhappy acquaintances left behind.

That seems to be the case for singer Cody Verse who was the winner on America’s Next Hit Single. His childhood pal, Andrew Chapper, says he wrote the lyrics to the winning song so he’s suing Cody.

Flower shop owner Abby Knight doesn’t like how her little town of New Chapel is turned upside down with Cody and Andrew’s court case. The media has descended on the town to follow the case and most the shop owners are changing their store names and fronts to draw attention their way.

Cody’s hired sleazy Ken “the lip” Lipinski as his lawyer, while Abby’s former boss, clean-cut Dave Hammond, is representing Andrew. A key piece of Dave’s evidence goes missing and he accuses Ken of taking it. When Ken turns up dead a short time later, Dave is the prime suspect. It’s up to Abby and her boyfriend, Marco Salvares, to find the real killer and help Dave out of a jam.

The quirky antics of the secondary characters will have you crying with laughter, while the twists and turns of the plot will keep you guessing whodunit until the very end.

DIRTY ROTTEN TENDRILS is the 10th installment in the Flower Shop Mystery series, but it’s a stand alone book. Readers can keep up without having read the prior books, but once you meet Abby and the gang you’ll want to read all the rest.

An added bonus is an excerpt of the 11ths installment in the series, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DANDELION (coming April 2011) is included at the back of the book.

Kate Collins’ website is www.katecollins.com

Dirty Rotten Tendrils, A Flower Shop Mystery, Obsidan, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-45123152-9, Paperback, 336 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

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THE BEDTIME OF THE SKY AND OTHER SLEEPY-BYE STORIES by Carolyn Wolfe

THE BEDTIME OF THE SKY features four short stories that are designed for bedtime reading. The stories included:

“Dolly Dear” - a story about the nighttime adventures of a doll or was that just a dream?

“If Mom Designed The Universe” - deals with how a mother would care for the universe. What changes would she make?

“The Bedtime of the Sky” - tells about what the moon, stars, planets, and other elements do when it’s time for bed.

And my personal favorite - “There’s A Dragon In My Sock Drawer” - this delightful tale explains what really happens to those missing socks, crumpled sheets, and why it’s sometimes hard to sleep at night.

The beautiful illustrations by Leslie Mathis enhance the stories and bring them to life as author Carolyn Wolfe weaves intriguing tales for bedtime adventures. This would make a nice addition to any child’s library.

Carolyn Wolfe’s website is www.whenthemoonspeaks.com

The Bedtime of the Sky and Other Sleepy-bye Stories by Carolyn Wolfe, Illustrated by Leslie Mathis, Avid Readers Publishing Group, @2010, ISBN: 978-1-935105-57-2, Paperback, 32 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and the author sent it to me in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.