A Note from Cleo {+ Awesome Giveaway}

(*Note: The winner of this awesome giveaway is Laura Pond. Congratulations to Laura and thanks to everyone who commented.)

It is with great delight that I welcome award-winning author Cleo Coyle here today to talk about her latest Coffeehouse Mystery, ONCE UPON A GRIND, the 14th installment in her fascinating series.

To celebrate the release, Cleo is offering an awesome giveaway – an autographed copy of ONCE UPON A GRIND and a durable canvas Coffeehouse Mystery Tote Bag! Please see the end of the post for more details.

First here’s a brief description of this amazing story:

When coffeehouse manager turned amateur sleuth Clare Cosi roasts “magic” beans for a Fairy Tale Fall event, she brews up a vision that leads to a sleeping beauty in Central Park; a big, bad wolf of Wall Street; and an East Side enclave with storybook secrets…
        Fairy tale fever has descended on New York City. Broadway fans are flocking to Red Riding Hood: The Musical; museums are exhibiting art inspired by the Brothers Grimm; and Clare Cosi and her merry band of baristas give their coffee truck a “Jack and the Beanstalk” makeover for a Central Park festival. Clare’s coffee hunter ex-husband contributes a bag of African beans with alleged magical properties. His octogenarian mother entertains customers with readings of the grinds, but Clare remains skeptical—until she receives a vision that helps her find a young model’s body in the park’s woods.
        The police dismiss “sleeping beauty” as the victim of a drug overdose. Then Clare uncovers evidence that points to a list of suspects—from a New York Giant to quite a few wicked witches—and a cold case murder that reaches back to the Cold War. Now Clare is really in the woods with a dangerous predator on her heels and an investigation that leads from a secret Prince Charming Club right back to her own NYPD detective boyfriend. If she doesn’t solve this mystery, those magic beans predict an unhappy ending.
 
Now join me in giving a warm welcome to Cleo and she shares a note with us. Welcome, Cleo.

For over a decade, our wonderful readers have been meeting us at the Village Blend, where coffee and crime are always brewing. This latest entry in our Coffeehouse series is more than a murder mystery. It’s also a novel about the magic and power of story. That’s why we chose the most basic and beloved stories of our culture—fairy tales—to serve as our motif. 

Like any good fairy tale, Once Upon a Grind takes you through secret doors; plays with your sense of reality; introduces you to an array of colorful characters; and while the ending may be happy, not everyone survives.

Intertwined with the murder mystery is a very personal story for our amateur sleuth. Coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi doesn’t want to admit it, but her life has become a grind. “If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.” This is the epigraph that opens Once Upon a Grind, and it applies directly to Clare.
 
She wants to leave her story and start another, but she’s afraid of disappointing the people she loves. Is Clare able to change her story by the end of the book? No spoiler here. But if you’re a fan of our series, you won’t want to miss this entry.

On the other hand, if you’ve never read our Coffeehouse Mysteries before, no worries. Once Upon a Grind can be read as a stand-alone novel. And if you enjoy it, you’ll have 13 more books you can read, as well. 

To download a free checklist of all 14 Coffeehouse Mystery titles, click here. 

To read the Prologue and First Chapter of ONCE UPON A GRIND, click here. 

To sample some of the book’s wicked good RECIPES, click here.



Thank you to Mason Canyon and her excellent Thoughts in Progress blog for hosting us today. 

May your holidays be bright and your New Year be caffeinated!
~ Alice and Marc, who write as Cleo Coyle

Leave a comment and you will be entered to win an autographed copy of ONCE UPON A GRIND and this durable canvas Coffeehouse Mystery Tote Bag!


Cleo, thanks so much for visiting with us today and sharing this look at Clare and her current adventure. The setting and subject matter of this story quickly pulls you in.

For those not familiar with Cleo (aka Alice and Marc), here’s a bit of background.

Cleo Coyle is the pen name for Alice Alfonsi, who writes with her husband, Marc Cerasini. This popular married writing team was born and raised in Pittsburgh, met in New York City, and married in Las Vegas. 

Together they've authored a number of bestselling books. As Cleo Coyle, they write The Coffeehouse Mysteries. As Alice Kimberly, they write The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries.

For more on this writing duo, visit their website and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Now for my thoughts on the book:

Fairy tales are a popular commodity right now and author Cleo Coyle knows how to blend the magical stories with murder, suspense, and coffee for a tantalizing outcome.

A weekend storybook festival in New York’s Central Park is the perfect setting for this cozy murder mystery. With visions of Prince Charming, various princesses, Jack and the Beanstalk (with magic coffee beans), and many other fairy tale characters, readers are quickly pulled into a fascinating world of greed, deception, and murder.

As the story speeds along, the twists and turns will keep you wondering who the real villain is. The characters are captivating, likable and realistic. The mix of fairy tales with magical coffee beans makes for a mesmerizing story.

You don’t have to be a coffee fan to enjoy this suspenseful mystery, but the tasty recipes included might tempt you to try a cup of Snow White Chocolate Mocha or ‘The Great Pumpkin’ Spice Latte. You can also try your hand at coffee tasseography (the art of reading coffee grinds).

The well-developed characters, the mystical setting and the suspense will have you quickly turning the pages of ONCE UPON A GRIND. A spellbinding mystery you won’t be able to put down.

Once Upon A Grind by Cleo Coyle, Coffeehouse Mystery Series Book #14, Berkley, @2014, ISBN: 978-0425270851, Hardcover, 416 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author. 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 autographed copy of ONCE UPON A GRIND and a Coffeehouse Mystery Tote Bag. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end at midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Just leave a comment (be sure to include your email address, if it’s not in your profile) and you will be entered to win. If you wish not to enter the giveaway but want to comment, just say not entering in your comment.

Thanks for stopping by today. Christmas is almost here and ONCE UPON A GRIND would make a wonderful gift for the mystery lover on your list. I’ve said it before and have to say it again, without Cleo’s encouragement in 2009 this blog won’t exist. Thanks Cleo for that and for the continued installments in one of my most favorite series.

*SIDE NOTE: I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I may not be back online until Friday. I hope everyone has a wonderful time with their family and friends. Be safe and take care, my friends.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Princess April Morning-Glory On Tour

Reading a fairy tale to a child before bedtime should be magical for both listener and reader. The late Letitia Fairbanks penned just such a tale in Princess April Morning-Glory.

The story follows Princess April as she leaves the Enchanted Forrest for the Great World beyond when she became upset that her wings are too small for her to fly. With only her blue butterflies for company, Princess April goes on a grand adventure and then tries to find her way home.

Along the way Princess April learns to be brave, courageous, and undertakes 3 good deeds in order to return home. Just as she is about to find her way home, she encounters the wicked Fairy Misery who imprisons her in a dungeon. With the help of a hummingbird and a magical wand from her father, Princess April overcomes evil and finally returns home.

This is an enchanting story that will quickly become a favorite at bedtime. Enhancing this story is the beautiful and amazing illustrations by the author that bring the story to life. There are even tiny illustrations among the words.

To add to the charm, the author penned the book in a lovely calligraphy-style writing. While the text might be difficult for young children to read, it will be a lovely writing style for them to learn as they grow. The book also includes 10 suggestions for doing good deeds youngsters (and adults) can attempt.

Princess April Morning-Glory will delight youngsters, while the story behind the story will capture adults’ attention. The author is the nieces of the late Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Mary Pickford of the golden age of Hollywood. The book, written and illustrated in 1941, was recently brought to life by Kelley Smoot Garrett, the step-daughter of the author. Letitia began work on this tale on Dec. 11, 1939, which was her 26th birthday and the night her uncle, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., died.

If you’re looking for an enchanting fairy tale, be sure to pick up Princess April Morning-Glory. It’s a story all ages can enjoy.

For more on the author and additional background on this fascinating tale, visit here.

Princess April Morning-Glory by Letitia Fairbanks, Sandramantos Publishing, @2013, ISBN: 978-0988784802, Paperback, 66 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of a virtual book tour. The book was sent to me by Kelley Smoot Garrett in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 

As this review is part of a virtual book tour, I’d also like to give a bit of background on both Letitia Fairbanks and Kelley Smoot Garrett. 

In addition, you can enter the Rafflecopter below for a Kindle Fire HD giveaway sponsored by Pump Up Your Book Promotions.

About Letitia Fairbanks:

Letitia Fairbanks, the niece of Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Mary Pickford, lived a life guided by artistic passions. 

In 1939, wanting to commemorate her late uncle, Letitia began work on Princess April Morning-Glory, allowing a creative outlet for combining her lifelong loves: painting, writing, and illustration.

Holding firm to her artistic identify, Letitia gravitated toward portraiture, landscapes, and still-lifes. She was also a biographer, co-authoring Douglas Fairbanks: The Fourth Musketeer, with Ralph Hancock. 

Her marriage to Hal Smoot in 1966 marked the beginning of a particularly joyful and creative period. Needle points and annual Christmas cards, which featured a painting from the previous year, not to mention her role as a wife, mother, step-mother and grandmother brought her much fulfillment. After a life rich in artistic accomplishment, Letitia passed away in September of 1992.

About Kelley Smoot Garrett:  
Kelley Smoot Garrett was born in Dallas, raised in Manhattan and has lived the life of a West Texas wildcatter, as well that of an IT professional. 

At one time or another in her life she’s called places as diverse as Scourie, Scotland; Austin, Abilene and Midland, Texas; Singapore; Paris; and Auckland, New Zealand — home. She is proud to be the daughter of Sue Ashby and Harold Smoot and the step-daughter of Letitia Fairbanks Smoot. 

She currently lives with her husband Danny Garrett, three cats, and one happy only-dog, Moxie in the Texas Hill Country.

Additional information about Princess April Morning-Glory can be found on the book’s website.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thanks for stopping by today. Are you familiar with the Fairbanks’ name? Did you have a favorite fairy tale you enjoyed when you were growing up? I’ve include the book trailer for Princess April Morning-Glory for your enjoyment. It shows some of the beautiful illustrations and text from the book.