Thursday, January 2, 2014

Murder Strikes A Pose and a Giveaway



Author Tracy Weber
It’s a pleasure to be included in author Tracy Weber’s delightful Great Escape Virtual Book Tour for her recent release, MURDER STRIKES A POSE, the first installment in her new Downward Dog Mystery series. 
 
As an added bonus during the tour, the author is giving away 1 autographed copy of MURDER STRIKES A POSE to a lucky visitor at each of the blog stops. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

A part of the tour I’ll share my thoughts on the book, tell you a bit about the author, tell you other sites that will be participating in the tour and tell you how to enter to win the autographed copy. Now here are my thoughts on this fun debut in this bubbly new series.


MURDER STRIKES A POSE by Tracy Weber

You don’t have to be into yoga to enjoy this charming story featuring yoga instructor Kate Davidson as the intrepid amateur sleuth.


Kate is trying to keep her yoga studio afloat and doesn’t have time for her best friend’s matchmaking attempts. To make matters worse, a homeless alcoholic named George and his sidekick, Bella, start selling newspapers outside her studio. It wouldn’t be so bad, but Bella is a German shepherd the size of a small horse and makes a ruckus every time another dog comes within sight.

Kate, using her best Zen-like approach, tries to convince them to move to another spot. But after a couple of attempts, the three strike up an unlikely friendship. Kate discovers there’s more to George than first appears.

When Kate finds George murdered, the police dismiss it as a drug-related street crime. However, Kate knows George wasn’t into drugs and is determined to find his killer. She also has to find someone to adopt Bella before her intimidating ways get the lovable dog in real trouble with the authorities.

As Kate tries to maintain her calm amid the chaos, the killer is closer to making her Corpse Pose a permanent move.

Author Tracy Weber combines murder, mayhem, humor, romance and understanding for a well-balanced cozy murder mystery. The story moves at a steady pace and holds your attention from beginning to end. The story will have you laughing while trying to guess who the killer really is.

The characters are well-developed and likable. The interaction of Kate and her friends draws the reader in. Weber’s eye for detail places the reader in the Seattle setting and brings the story to life. The antics of Bella will tug on the heartstrings of animal lovers. The author’s attention to details shines through in her knowledge of yoga and dogs.

MURDER STRIKES A POSE is an intriguing debut for a fascinating new series that will delight mystery readers. Combining calming techniques, dog-related frolics, mystery and laughs; Weber has crafted a story that is hard to put down.

Murder Strikes A Pose by Tracy Weber, A Downward Dog Mystery, Midnight Ink, @2014, ISBN: 978-0738739687, Paperback, 288 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me as part of the author’s virtual blog tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracy Weber is a certified yoga teacher and the founder of Whole Life Yoga, an award-winning yoga studio in Seattle, where she currently lives with her husband and German shepherd. 

Weber is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and Sisters in Crime. She loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible. 

For more information on Weber, visit her online at TracyWeberAuthor.com and WholeLifeYoga.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

The author’s tour begins today (January 2) and runs through
January 15. The author will give away 1 autographed book at each stop. For more information, check out her tour page. Here’s a list of the blogs participating in the tour and more chances to win a copy of MURDER STRIKES A POSE.

January 3 - Books-n-Kisses - Review, Guest Post
January 4 - readalot- Review, Giveaway
January 5 – Auntiemwrites's Weblog
January 7 - Mochas, Mysteries and More - Interview, Review, Giveaway
January 8 - dru's book musing - Guest Post, Giveaway
January 9 - Chloe Gets A Clue - Interview, Giveaway
January 10 - Read Your Writes Book Reviews - Review, Giveaway
January 11 - rantin' ravin' and reading - Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
January 15 – Killer Characters – Guest Post

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one autographed copy of MURDER STRIKES A POSE and is open to residents of the U.S. only.

To enter this giveaway, please send me an e-mail ( mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Murder Strikes a Pose.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win an autographed copy of MURDER STRIKES A POSE is 8 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Are you into yoga or would you like to give it a try? What are your thoughts on German shepherds?


24 comments:

  1. Hi all! I'm delighted to be here on this first stop of my Great Escapes blog tour! And SO GLAD you liked the book! I'm happy to answer questions about my mystery series, German Shepherds, my own lovely dog, yoga, or anything else that strikes your fancy. Leave a comment and thanks for your support! Happy New Year Everyone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tracy and welcome to Thoughts in Progress. I'm delighted to be a part of your tour. Murder Strikes A Pose is a fun cozy. Looking forward to Kate's next adventure.

      Delete
    2. Thanks! I'm sending the second book to my publisher this week....

      Delete
  2. Mason - Thanks for letting us know about Murder Strikes a Pose. I wouldn't have thought that a yoga theme and an animal theme would both fit well in the same novel, but this one sounds like an interesting mix of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margot, you're right, yoga and dogs seems like an odd combination but Tracy blends it all together for a charming story.

      Delete
    2. Yoga people LOVE dogs! I know that for me personally, yoga transformed my life in one way, my dog Tasha in a completely different one. Yoga made be a calmer person, Tasha a kinder person. ;-)

      Delete
  3. Sounds like a great story! Love the cover too :)
    Best wishes for the new year Mason - may it bring you lots of joy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your compliment on the cover. My husband hired that artist to create the web banner for my author page, and my publisher liked it enough that they hired her, too. I'm very lucky!

      Delete
  4. I'm looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for your thoughts on the book.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cute book cover. I like dogs. Had a german shepherd when I was a kid. Never tried yoga. Not sure I'm coordinated enough. ; )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. German shepherds are the best! (but I'm biased.) My family had them when I was a kid, too. And you don't have to be coordinated to do yoga. It doesn't have to be like the photos on the magazines. I'm uncoordinated and inflexible--and I teach it!

      Delete
  6. Very nice! I enjoyed your review, Mason, and wish the Tracy success in her series!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Karen! I hope you give it a read sometime!

      Delete
  7. This sounds like a good read. Love the cover.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I hope you try the book and love it!

      Delete
  8. Good interview. I love cosy mysteries, and this sounds like a good one. I am sorry to say that I am not yet into yoga, but I love dogs, and German Shepards are so smart. My husband and I had one years ago. Trusty loyal dog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe reading the book will tempt you into trying yoga! I do agree, German shepherds are AMAZING dogs.

      Delete
  9. This sounds like a great story, and I love the cover.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Gina! I hope you read and love the book!

      Delete
  10. I love the cover of Murder! I don't do yoga, mostly because the only class I could work in would be VERY early in the morning and then I'd just get all stressed at work after plus I don't do early morning. ;-)

    German Shepherds are great dogs - they've just got a bad rap.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the compliment on the cover! I love it, too! I don't do early mornings very well either, though I used to teach a class 3 days a week at 6:15 AM...I can recommend some good videos, if you're interested.

    I've loved German shepherds since I was a little girl. My GSD is the love of my life. (Don't tell my husband.) I hope you read MURDER STRIKES A POSE and love it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Replies
    1. Thanks, Brooke! I hope you read it and love it! Happy New Year!

      Delete

I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.