Geared for the Grave and The Look! {+ Giveaway}

I’m delighted to welcome author Duffy Brown back to Thoughts in Progress today to talk about her new cozy murder mystery series and ‘The Look.’

GEARED FOR THE GRAVE, the first installment in Duffy’s new Cycle Path Mystery series, has just been released. To celebrate the release and the new series, Duffy has an awesome giveaway to share with us today and the lovely Danielle at Penguin Group is offering a print copy of GEARED FOR THE GRAVE. Read on to learn more.

First, join me in giving Duffy a warm welcome as she explains about ‘The Look.’ Welcome, Duffy.

How did I get into this mess??

             While cowering in the back of a ferryboat, head over railing and losing my lunch in Lake Huron, it occurred to me that no matter how old I am I want to impress my parents. Deep inside I’m just a kid yelling, Mom, look at me! No hands! Granted, this wasn’t exactly a look at me moment but it’s what got me into this mess.

This is the opening for Geared for the Grave and comes straight from the heart considering how many things I’ve done because I was supposed to.

Not that Mom and Dad ever said You got to do this or else but I got The Look. Have you ever gotten The Look?

It’s the reason I went to church on Sunday, cleaned my room every Saturday and helped Sister Helen hand out bingo cards on Thursday night fundraisers.

Sometimes The Look took on the aura of the Evil Eye. Spending too much time on the front porch after a date got me the Eye of What will the neighbors think? If I kissed said date on that porch that got two pairs of Evil Eyes...Mom and Dad.

Evie Bloomfield in Geared for the Grave is in desperate of need of bragging rights for the upcoming Christmas holiday and gathering of over-achieving siblings and parents. She needs a raise and a promotion. In trying to get on her boss’ good side she volunteers to leave Chicagoland to help her boss’ dad who owns a bike shop and has broken his leg. 

This sounds like a great way for Evie to avoid The Look until dad winds up prime suspect in a murder. 

To now try and save her job Evie takes over the failing shop though she’s never ridden a bike, finding a killer though she can’t find her keys in her purse and discovering why someone is out to frame Dad. Can Chicago Evie survive life on Mackinac Island without her Honda, being on an eight-mile chunk of land with horses, carriages, bikes, fudge-eating tourists, the resident sage writing her eulogy and a killer who wants her dead?

Just how far will Evie go to avoid The Look across the Christmas dinner table?
 
How far have you gone to avoid The Look? What have you done to get Mom and Dad’s approval? Did you join the choir thought you hate show tunes? Share your bed with your visiting cousin though he still wets the bed? Dog sit the neighbor’s pooch though he wants nothing more than to have you for dinner?
 
Share your ‘How I avoided The Look experience’ and I’ll give away three totes from the answers.

Happy Holidays...and hope you avoid The Look this year across the dining room table.

Hugs,
Duffy Brown

Duffy, thanks so much for joining us today and sharing this insight into your new series and ‘The Look.’ I’m looking forward to reading what the visitors share on their ways of avoiding ‘The Look.’

First let me share a bit of background on Duffy for those who aren’t familiar with this talented author.

Duffy Brown is also Dianne Castell. As a USA Today bestselling author, she wrote for Kensington and Harlequin, won Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, HOLT-Medallion Award, has been on the cover of Romantic Times Magazine and included in Rhapsody Book Club, Doubleday Book Club and made the Waldenbooks Bestseller list.

Duffy loved anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, she longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. Duffy lives in Cincinnati, has two cats - Spooky and Dr. Watson, her license plate is Sherlok and she now conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own for Berkley Prime Crime. She is a national bestselling author and her Consignment Shop Mystery series is set in Savannah and the Cycle Path Mysteries are set on Mackinac Island.

For more on Duffy and her writing, visit her website and connect with her at Killer Characters and every Wednesday find her at Cozy Chicks.

Here are my thoughts on this fun new series.

Evie Bloomfield never imagined what she was getting herself into when she went to help out her boss’s father on Mackinac Island.
 
Hoping to gain favor with her boss, Evie didn’t think it could be that bad helping Rudy Randolph, owner of Rudy’s Rents, run his bike shop in the small summer resort town. Before she has time to settle in, Evie finds Bunny Harrington dead from an apparent bike accident. Bunny, a wealthy local, is despised by most on the island. Rudy, however, becomes the prime suspect in her death when it’s discovered her bike was tampered with.

Evie takes it upon herself to clear Rudy’s name. Between trying to keep the murder from the tourists and dealing with the eccentric locals, Evie has her hands full. The killer is closer than she realizes and closing in fast.

This new series by author Duffy Brown offers a unique and charming setting. The characters are delightful and entertaining. The secondary characters enhance the story. The combination of suspense and humor comes through with flying colors in this story.

With a mixture of interesting twists and turns, GEARED FOR THE GRAVE will keep you guessing until the end. No matter the season, this enchanting story will have you thinking of bike rides and fun adventures to come.

Brown is on the right path with this enthralling new cozy mystery series.

Geared for the Grave by Duffy Brown, Cycle Path Mystery Book #1, Berkley, @2014, ISBN: 978-0425268940, Paperback, 304 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of 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. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

PRINT GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one print copy of GEARED FOR THE GRAVE. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end at 12 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. 

To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient. The winner from this giveaway will have 72 hours to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. The email will have ‘Thoughts in Progress Duffy Brown’s Tour’ in the subject line, just so you know what to watch for (in case it goes into your spam folder).

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have you thought about how you avoided ‘The Look’ experience?

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