Rest in Peach {+ Giveaway}

If you love Southern charm blended with a good murder mystery, then you’re in for a treat when you read REST IN PEACH by Susan Furlong.

This charming story is the second installment in Furlong’s Georgia Peach Mystery Series, but can be read as a standalone.

A cotillion is a huge deal to a young Southern lady, but to Nola Mae Harper it means clearing her best friend, Ginny, as a prime murder suspect. Vivien Crenshaw, mother of the town’s spoiled-rotten Peach Queen, has been stabbed to death and she and Ginny had fought over a cotillion dress. The dispute had been about a one-of-a-kind dress each had claimed for her daughter.

Juggling the cotillion dinner and the grand opening of her own shop, Peachy Keen, Nola is determined to find the real killer. She’ll have to pick through a huge crop of suspects before getting to the core motive and the vicious killer.

Furlong’s down-home, small town, friendly atmosphere quickly draws you in. The many twists and turns will hold you captive as you work your way through the suspense. The story flows smoothly like a conversation among friends.

The characters are realistic, well-developed with a touch of quirkiness making them likable. Furlong blends humor, charm, loyalty, mystery and mayhem with a touch of romance for a well-balanced story.

Each chapter begins with a debutante rule and several delicious peach inspired recipes are included at the end. In addition, readers get a special preview of the next Georgia Peach Mystery, WAR AND PEACH, coming soon.

REST IN PEACH is a delightful cozy mystery just right for hours of entertainment with a Southern flare to make you smile.

Rest in Peach by Susan Furlong, A Georgia Peach Mystery (Book #2), Berkley Prime Crime, @2016, ISBN: 978-0425278567, Mass Market 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.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Penguin/Random House, I have a print copy of REST IN PEACH by Susan Furlong to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Wednesday, April 20.

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. Hopefully I’ve enticed you to check out this delightful book. Are you familiar with cotillions? Do you like peaches, if so what’s your favorite way to enjoy them – in a cobbler, ice cream, fresh from the tree, etc.?

** Just had to add one debutante rule to give you an idea of the fun:

Debutante Rule #027: Debutantes may not know what they’re doing all the time. But rest assured, if you’re from a small town, someone else does.

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Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey

With what I call a pleasant sing-song writing style, author Kristy Woodson Harvey quickly entices readers into her latest novel, LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE.

The story has a rhythmical feel to it as you get to know each character. The back and forth narration is smooth, easy flowing as it pulls you deeper and deeper into the lives of Lynn “Lovey” White, her five daughters, and her granddaughter, Annabelle.

The author has created such well-developed and likable characters that you feel they are like friends you wish you had (or have). With flaws and traits affecting every family, readers will be able to relate to these characters, especially Lovey and Annabelle.

Lovey is dealing with the declining health of her husband, Dan, after 60 years of marriage while adapting to new surrounds. In addition, she continues to handle the daily woes of her family’s lives and consider if a ‘white lie’ from her past should be shared before it’s too late.

As the family adjust to things with Lovey and Dan, Annabelle comes into her own set of problems. Having left one man shortly before her wedding only to marry another man she had known less than a week, Annabelle has her life turned upside down when she learns of a lie involving her husband, Ben. Then another family secret comes to light, but is it what she thinks it is? 

The author blends lies and forgiveness, heartache and joy with strength and endurance for a tender story that will touch your heart. The author tackles the issue of how lies (big and small) impact our lives whether saving us from hurt or tearing families apart.

Written with a touch of Southern flare, LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE has light-hearted, humorous moments that enhance the serious tone of the story. The characters come alive on the pages and pull you in for an overall well-balanced story. 

Filled with love, understanding and the struggles of life, this book will leave you considering the white lies we tell ourselves and those we love. Through tears and laughter, the characters and tone of the story will stay with you long after the book is closed.

Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Berkley, @2016, ISBN: 978-1101987063, Paperback, 352 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.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope I’ve enticed you to further check out Kristy’s book, LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE. You may remember Kristy joined us here on March 28th to talk about her writing room. If you didn’t get a chance to visit then, I hope you’ll check it out today. Do you find yourself telling others (and yourself) white lies from time to time? Is there one white lie you tell yourself over and over again? Right now, my continuous white lie is I’m going to exercise more … tomorrow. :-)

Meet Etta Mae Wiggins Taggert Whitlow (hopeful to be Connard) {+ Giveaway+}

I was delighted to find out that author Ann B. Ross had written a book featuring one of her minor characters, Etta Mae Wiggins, and thrilled to have the opportunity not only to review the book, but offer a copy as a giveaway to y’all - the wonderful readers of this blog.

Let me share my thoughts on this entertaining book and then I’ll tell you how you can win a copy for yourself. 

ETTA MAE’S WORST BAD-LUCK DAY by Ann B. Ross

The characters in author Ann B. Ross’s Miss Julia novels are memorable to say the least. They are zany, eclectic and likable, but most of all down-to-earth.

Etta Mae Wiggins, a recurring characters in the series, is one such personality. She’s hard working with a heart of gold, but bad luck seems to be her constant companion.

Fed up with her life and determined to do better for herself, Etta Mae comes up with a plan. Working as a home nurse for elderly Howard Connard Sr., Etta Mae sees a way to give the wealthy old man happiness in his final days and herself a proper place in Abbotsville society.

As the couple plan their nuptials, Connard’s son and daughter-in-law have other plans to make sure no one but them gets the old man’s money. To add to Etta Mae’s problems, her first ex-husband Skip Taggert shows up making major promises, but bringing only trouble and heartache with him. Then there’s Deputy Bobby Lee Moser, her hunky former boyfriend, who still stirs excitement in her.

As Etta Mae tries to make it to the altar for the third time, she has to overcome a number of twists and turns along the way. Her spitfire attitude keeps her on course, but life never turns out quite like Etta Mae plans.

Once again the author has blended her Southern wit and charm with a fast pace story that will have you laughing and crying. While Miss Julia isn’t the focus of this story, she does make an appearance giving new readers an introduction to Etta Mae. For returning fans of Miss Julia, this is a priceless close-up look at the lovable Etta Mae. This book can be read on its own, but don’t be surprised to find yourself curious about Miss Julia and other adventures Etta Mae has assisted her with.

The characters are engaging and the dialogue will have you in stitches. Etta Mae is a strong-willed woman who may be a bit impetuous, but only wants to be loved and respected.

ETTA MAE’S WORST BAD-LUCK DAY is an entertaining, hilarious and lively adventure you don’t want to miss. The vivacious Etta Mae Wiggins makes a bad-luck day enjoyable in true Southern style.

Etta Mae’s Worst Bad-Luck Day by Ann B. Ross, Miss Julia Novel Book #16, Viking Adult, @2014, ISBN: 978-0670024377, Hardcover, 320 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.


GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one print copy of ETTA MAE’S WORST BAD-LUCK DAY. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end Sunday, Aug. 31.

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: Etta Mae Wiggins’ in the subject line, just so you know what to watch for (in case it goes into your spam folder).

I appreciate you stopping by today and visiting. I hope I’ve enticed you to check out this fun book about Etta Mae and her trip to the altar. Have you read any of the Miss Julia books?

*This post contains affiliate a Rafflecopter giveaway