Crepe Factor {+ Giveaway}

◊ CREPE FACTOR by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran

◊ Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery, Book 14

◊ Hardcover: 320 pages

◊ Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery

◊ Publisher: Berkley (October 4, 2016)

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 0425266702

◊ ISBN-13: 978-0425266700

SYNOPSIS:

The Winter Market in the French Quarter is in full swing, but murder isn’t taking a holiday in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Parchment and Old Lace...
 

The holidays are a busy time for scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand—but not so hectic that she doesn’t have time to enjoy browsing the booths at the Winter Market with her best friend Ava. The last thing the ladies expect to see is a lurching man stabbed by a serving fork, dying in front of them.

The victim is loathed restaurant critic Martin Lash, who posted his scathing reviews on the Glutton for Punishment website. And the prime suspect is New Orleans restauranteur Quigg Brevard—who was seen giving the critic a tongue-lashing minutes before someone stuck a fork in him. An old flame of Carmela, Quigg asks for her help, which does not please her current beau, Detective Edgar Babcock, to say the least.

Before her relationship is the next victim, Carmela needs to find a murderer who had no reservations about punishing the culinary curmudgeon...

Scrapbooking tips and recipes included! 

The sights, sounds, and smells of New Orleans come alive in the latest installment in the Scrapbooking Mystery series by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran.

The book features a core cast of characters that are well-developed, realistic, and steeped in New Orleans tradition The bonds of friendship among the group enhances the story.

The New Orleans setting is perfect, especially with the festive activities going on. Through rich descriptions and vivid details, readers are placed in the middle of the action.

One doesn’t have to enjoy scrapbooking to appreciate this murder mystery. But there are crafting tips and delicious New Orleans recipes included in the back as an added bonus.

Tension mounts right from the beginning and holds your attention until the very end. There are twists and turns along the way to keep you guessing. There’s a good mix of mystery, mayhem, friendship, humor, history, and romance to make this a well-balanced story.

CREPE FACTOR can be read on its own, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to know more background on these intriguing characters. This is a delightful read that will keep you entertained for hours and may just make you want to visit New Orleans (minus the murder, of course).

Crepe Factor by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran, A Scrapbooking Mystery (Book #14), Berkley, @2016, ISBN: 978-0425266700, Hardcover, 320 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author and publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Penguin Random House, I have a print copy of CREPE FACTOR by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, Oct. 30.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Are you a scrapbooking fan? What about New Orleans, have you been there or want to go there?

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Parchment and Old Lace {+ Giveaway}

Visions of New Orleans quickly fill your head when you begin reading PARCHMENT AND OLD LACE, the 13th installment in the Scrapbooking Mystery series by Laura Childs.

Childs, with author Terrie Farley Moran, bring New Orleans to life as they keep you in suspense in this latest cozy murder mystery. The rich descriptions of the historic Garden District and other areas places the reader among the characters as the story unfolds.

Scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand and her beau, Detective Edgar Babcock, enjoy a romantic dinner, but have a brief interruption when Isabelle Black stops by their table. After bragging about her upcoming wedding, she leaves.

Minutes later on their way from the restaurant, Carmela and Edgar hear a scream coming from the Lafayette Cemetery. There they discover Isabelle, strangled with a piece of vintage lace, lying across a gravestone.

Carmela is pulled into the search for the killer by Isabelle’s sister, Ellie. A tarot card reader, Ellie works at Juju Voodoo, owned by Carmela’s best friend, Ava Gruiex. Carmela has no choice but to untangle the clues before someone else dies.

The characters are likable, colorful and well-developed. The secondary characters add depth to the story, as well as bits of humor. The bonds of friendship are well defined drawing readers farther into the feel of the story.

The blending of a murder mystery with the daily disruptions of a store owner makes for an entertaining read. Moving at a good pace, the story keeps you marveling at what could happen next mixed with the right amount of tension and suspense.

Readers don’t have to enjoy scrapbooking to be beguiled by this story. In fact, the scrapbooking tips and tasty New Orleans recipes are just an added bonus.

Like a good gumbo, PARCHMENT AND OLD LACE is a mix of all things mystery lovers will relish. 

Author Laura Childs can be found HERE and author Terrie Farley Moran can be found HERE.


Parchment and Old Lace by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran, A Scrapbooking Mystery (Book #13), Berkley, @2015, ISBN: 978-0425266687, Hardcover, 336 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author 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.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Thanks to the lovely Laura, I have not one but two (2) hardcover copies of PARCHMENT AND OLD LACE to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Friday, Oct. 23.

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 two winners will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Parchment and Old Lace Giveaway.” The winners will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decide for whatever reason you don’t want to win, once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by for my review of this mesmerizing mystery. Are you a scrapbook fan? Do you enjoy books that have a New Orleans influence? 

*This post contains affiliate links.

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Gossamer Ghost: Grab the Hot Glue Gun {+ Giveaways}

I’m delighted today to be participating in author Laura Childs’ virtual book tour for her recent release, GOSSAMER GHOST, the latest installment in her Scrapbooking Mystery series.

You don’t have to be a scrapbooking expert or even like the craft to enjoy this series by Laura. You might be surprised, though, as Laura has a way of drawing you into the craft with this fun series.

Laura joins us today to talk about a bit about crafting using a hot glue gun and I’ll share my thoughts on GOSSAMER GHOST. Thanks to the lovely Danielle at Penguin Group, I have a print copy of the book to give away. But wait - to add to the excitement, Laura is offering two more print copies. That’s right, I have 3 print copies of GOSSAMER GHOST to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for more details on the giveaway. 

Here’s a brief synopsis of this tantalizing story:

Carmela Bertrand knows that Halloween in New Orleans means a week of rabble-rousing, costumed craziness—and she can’t wait to get the party started. But when a local antiques dealer turns up dead, Carmela suddenly finds herself in a real-life danse macabre…
        An evening’s work deciding on the class schedule for her scrapbooking shop has put Carmela in the mood to kick up her heels. But after some strange noises draw her into Oddities, the neighboring antiques shop, Carmela’s night is abruptly put on hold when a bloody body falls out of a curio cabinet—and into her arms.
        While shop owner Marcus Joubert was known for being an eccentric with a penchant for eclectic merchandise, Carmela never thought he was the kind of man who could inspire the passion required to kill. But when Marcus’s assistant—and fiancée—Mavis reveals that a priceless death mask was also stolen, it becomes clear that murder wasn’t the culprit’s sole intention.
        Carmela can’t resist the urge to investigate the growing mystery, but as the list of suspects increases, she realizes it’ll take every trick in the book to unmask the killer thief before there’s another night of murderous mischief…

Now join me in giving Laura a warm welcome as she talks about ‘Grab that hot glue gun and get to work’. Welcome, Laura. 

I’m delighted that crafting is suddenly back with a vengeance! And not just scrapbooking, card making, rubber stamping, and journaling – all those fun goodies that are detailed in my Scrapbooking Mysteries. Today we’re caught up in a veritable tsunami of hot glue gunning, embellishing, collaging, silk-screening, painting, stippling, knitting, felting, and all manner of creative tweaking.

Craft fairs are popping up like errant mushrooms. Craft stores are selling supplies like crazy. Schools and churches have scrapped bake sales in favor of craft auctions. And the craft site Etsy racked up an amazing $29 billion in sales last year.

What’s at the heart of all this craft mania? For one thing, I believe that crafting gives us all a respite from this slick, digital world that we now find ourselves living in. And when big box stores are filled with row upon row of homogenous products, it’s only natural that we want to create something unique. Something handmade and one-of-a-kind.

And we crafters are a devilishly clever and resourceful bunch. We love the notion of repurposing paper, labels, ephemera, and even flea market finds. It’s smart, challenging, and kind to the environment. We know that handmade greeting cards (which truly do come from the heart!) will trump a quickie email any day. 

According to the Craft & Hobby Association, more than half of all households take part in at least one crafting activity – whether it’s actually making soap, or buying bars of soap and then lovingly wrapping them in beautiful paper. Believe me, you don’t need a specially tricked out, designated craft room to reap the joys of crafting. All you need is a flicker of an idea – and the desire to play around a little bit. (Remember playing? From when you were a kid?)

I love weaving craft projects into all my Scrapbooking Mysteries, and my newest mystery, GOSSAMER GHOST, is no exception. This one is a Halloween mystery, so it’s particularly suited for this time of year. And, as you might expect, there are a few Halloween-themed crafts that are detailed. Of course, there are also sachets, collaging, and scrapbooking. And tips on how to rubber stamp your own guest towels and design your own wine labels.

But I’m getting ahead of myself now, because the story’s really the thing. And I think you’ll get swept up in the mystery as scrapbook maven Carmela Bertrand discovers that the owner of Oddities Antiques has been murdered and a Napoleon death mask stolen. She and her BFF Ava scramble for clues, of course. But a Halloween investigation in New Orleans’ French Quarter also means shuffling zombies, a phony French countess, and a tricked out ghost train with a deadly confrontation. Oh yes, and along the way are New Orleans recipes for Seafood Bisque, Spoon Bread, Baked Porcupines, and Beignets. 

Interested? Then please do enjoy!

All my very best, Laura Childs

Laura, thanks for stopping by today and discussing crafting ideas. There is something special about receiving a handmade card or gift from a friend/family member. Crafting can be fun and a great way to relax.

For those who aren’t familiar with Laura, here’s a bit of background on her.

Laura Childs, a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt, is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbooking Mysteries, and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries. She is a consummate tea drinker, scrapbooker, and dog lover, and travels frequently to China and Japan with Dr. Bob, her professor husband. In her past life she was a Clio Award–winning advertising writer and CEO of her own marketing firm.

For more on Laura, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook.

Now for my thoughts ………

GOSSAMER GHOST by Laura Childs

Halloween is a great time to visit New Orleans, especially if you’re visiting Carmela Bertrand, the protagonist in author Laura Childs’ Scrapbooking Mystery series.

In GOSSAMER GHOST, the latest installment in the series, things are just gearing up for Halloween in the French Quarter. With all the events scheduled the one thing Carmela doesn’t need is to find her shop neighbor Marcus Joubert murdered.

It seems Marcus had a rare Napoleon death mask that has gone missing. The questions begin – was he killed for the mask or was he killed because he may have stolen the mask from someone else.

Even with her handsome detective boyfriend on the case, Carmela can’t help but get involved especially since she discovered the body. With help from her best friend Ava, Carmela sets out to find a few answers and the killer before the mask claims another life.

This story moves at a steady pace and has a lot of events going on, but it’s easy for readers to follow along. The rich, detailed descriptions of the New Orleans setting will quickly draw readers in. The author’s eye for detail places the reader in the middle of the scene. 

Weaving a mixture of history, mystery, and storyline, the author captures the spirit of the season and brings it to life. The characters are well-developed and likable. The secondary characters are eclectic and enhance the story.

GOSSAMER GHOST can be read as a standalone with new readers not being left in the dark by references to Carmela’s prior adventures. Readers get an extra treat with scrapbooking tips and delicious Cajun recipes included at the end of the book. As an added bonus, readers also get a sneak preview of SCORCHED EGGS, the next installment in the author’s Cackleberry Club Mystery series coming in December. 

This tantalizing cozy features a taste of New Orleans blended with a suspenseful murder mystery highlighted with humor and fascinating characters.

Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs. Scrapbooking Mystery Book #12, Berkley, @2014, ISBN: 978-0425266663, Hardcover, 336 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me 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.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for three (3) print copies of GOSSAMER GHOST. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end at 12 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29. 

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 Laura Childs’ Tour’ in the subject line, just so you know what to watch for (in case it goes into your spam folder).

Thanks so very much for dropping by today during Laura’s visit. Have you ever been to New Orleans during Halloween? Do you have a fun craft for Halloween you’d like to share with us?

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