Dash Away All (+ Giveaway)

I know you’ve been seeing “Christmas in July” already so no surprise it’s time for Christmas-themed books as well. I’m delighted to be participating in author Christina Freeburn’s Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for her new book, DASH AWAY ALL, the third installment in her Merry and Bright Handcrafted Mystery series.

Christina will be joining us to talk about “Why Christmas” and she has a great giveaway you’ll want to be sure and check out at the end of the post.

Dash Away All
by Christina Freeburn

* Cozy Mystery
* Handcrafted Mystery)
* Publisher: Henery Press (July 7, 2020)
* Hardcover: 264 pages
* ISBN-10: 1635116023
* ISBN-13: 978-1635116021
* Paperback: 264 pages
* ISBN-10: 163511599X
* ISBN-13: 978-1635115994
* Digital ASIN: B086TYK58V

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…Merry Winters is excited for her dream-come-true moment: Being an on-site crafter for a Christmas movie. The tidings of joy are short-lived as she finds herself becoming a referee, dealing with a raging Ebenezer, participating in a bucket brigade, and finding evidence in a “murder.”

Is someone trying to stop the production or is it tied to a secret someone has on Luna Carmichael, the star of the movie and the queen of Christmas?

When Marie, Luna’s assistant, stumbles away from a car accident and dies, Merry believes the accident wasn’t quite so accidental. Was Luna or Marie the target? Merry finds more questions than answers, but one thing is certain: Everyone has an ulterior motive for being part of the production—including Marie.

After another murder, Merry wonders if the deaths are tied to a baby born long ago and abandoned. And more importantly, will Merry live long enough to find out?

DASH AWAY ALL is available to purchase on the following sites:

Amazon – B&N – Kobo

Please join me now in welcoming Christina to TIP. Welcome, Christina.

I pretty much love everything about Christmas, especially the entertainment. I’m a fan of Christmas movies and spend much of November and December watching the Hallmark Channels. And from November 1^st to January 7, I only read Christmas themed and books set around the holidays and I’m thinking of doing the same thing in July.

I had always wanted to a Christmas series or book. Yet until a few years ago, I had never written one. So, I decided one of the books in a romantic suspense series I was writing would take place during Christmas time. I enjoyed writing that book but didn’t feel like I accomplished that item on my want-to-write-list. The story was set around Christmas but wasn’t Christmassy enough to fulfill my desire of writing a Christmas book.

When the heroine in my scrapbooking mystery wasn’t getting along with me and my muse, I hoped taking a little break and starting on a new series would open up the communication lines between us again. The brainstorming began for who and what would the series be about. What would be the background for the character and the hook for this potential series? What could I write about authentically and put a fun spin on a cozy? What did I wish there were more of in mysteries? And what have I longed to write and haven’t?

The answer for me was Christmas mysteries. But what kind of job would fit my character and me and gave me the opportunity to add Christmas into the mix? I love attending holiday craft shows and seeing all the handcrafted items. I knew crafting. I love crafting. I’ve tried a lot of different ones over the decades and it fit perfectly with my want of having a Christmas based series. A crafter who specialized in Christmas was perfect.

The reason I love story lines happening around or focused on the holiday are because they usually have a more hopeful feel. Magical. And there’s unique situations and activities that happen around the winter holidays that adds a uniqueness to a story. I love when authors incorporate Christmas into the book where it feels like the holiday is actually part of the story and that particular plot couldn’t happen at any other time of the year. I even figured out story lines where the book could take place in the summer and still have a Christmas story line along with the mystery.

I’d never label one series I’ve written as my favorite, but I have to admit the Merry & Bright Handcrafted mystery series does hold a special place in my heart.

Christina, thanks so much for joining us and sharing “Why Christmas.” There is something magical about Christmas.

For those who aren’t familiar with Christina, here is some background on her.

Author Christina Freeburn

Christina Freeburn has always loved books. There was nothing better than picking up a story and being transported to another place. The love of reading evolved into the love of writing and she’s been writing since her teenage years.

Her first novel was a 2003 Library of Virginia Literary Award nominee. Her mysteries series, Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery and Merry & Bright Handcrafted Mysteries, are a mix of crafty and crime and feature heroines whose crafting time is interrupted by crime solving.

Christina served in the US Army and has also worked as a paralegal, librarian, church secretary, and golf shop pro. She lives in West Virginia with her husband, dog, and a rarely seen cat except by those who are afraid and allergic to felines.

For more on Christina and her writing, you can connect with her on the following sites:

Webpage: www.christinafreeburn.com

Blog: www.theselfrescueprincess.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaFreeburnCraftyandCrimeAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristinaFreeb1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ChristinaFreeburn

Thanks so much for stopping by today. You can follow Christina on her blog tour by visiting the sites below and be sure to enter the giveaway. Do you read only Christmas-themed books in November and December? Do you have a favorite holiday?

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 6 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

July 6 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT

July 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 7 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 7 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

July 8 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

July 8 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW  

July 9 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

July 9 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

July 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

July 10 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

July 10 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 11 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – GUEST POST

July 11 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT

July 13 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

July 13 – Diane Reviews Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 14 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

July 14 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

July 14 – Brianne’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 15 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

July 15 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 15 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

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